sophiamenet

[sophiamenet]

I really like your thoughts on the show since I pretty much immediately took a negative stance against it and in my blog. Now that you say it, the presentations of the countries as their most well known, base stereotypes is not necessarily with the intent of misrepresenting history, but instead poking fun at and encouraging the contemplation of these essentialist views of nations. While I prefer realistic and historically accurate representation, I do see the appeal of Hetalia and its light-heartednes.

Hetalia: Axis Powers

Hetalia: Axis Powers, offers a unique and humorous take on world history by personifying countries as anthropomorphic characters. The show, which began as a webcomic and gained popularity for its anime adaptation, presents a comedic perspective on historical events and national stereotypes. By bringing countries to life, Hetalia explores cultural stereotypes in a way that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking.

One of the main things in this anime is the portrayal of various national stereotypes. Each character represents a different country and embodies common stereotypes associated with that nation. For instance, Italy is depicted as a carefree, pasta-loving, and somewhat cowardly figure, while Germany is portrayed as rigid and militaristic. Japan is characterized as reserved and polite, with a strong adherence to tradition. These portrayals, while exaggerated, serve as a playful nod to the clichés often associated with different cultures. The humor derived from these stereotypes is not only intended to amuse but also to spark discussions about the accuracy and impact of such generalizations.

The comedy in Hetalia provides a valuable relief from some of the more controversial and sensitive aspects of history. By using humor to address some dark historical events, the show makes these topics less intimidating. For example, the anime includes comedic takes on events like World War II and the Axis powers’ interactions, which could otherwise be uncomfortable or heavy subjects. The light-hearted approach allows people to engage with historical content in a way that feels less confrontational, helping to normalize discussions about difficult topics. The series uses its comedic lens to gently satirize the absurdities of international relations and historical conflicts. This approach helps to soften the impact of potentially contentious material, making it easier for audiences to digest and reflect upon.

While Hetalia’s portrayal of stereotypes might raise concerns about perpetuating clichés, the show’s intent is generally to entertain rather than to offend. The exaggerated character traits and historical settings are used to create a comedic effect that brings a lighter touch to the study of history and international relations for entertainment.

[sophiamenet]

I also related to Your Name in that way, though as someone who has lived in Gainesville my whole life, the anime encouraged me to at least exist within my present reality and appreciate life. I liked your analysis of power and gender policing, and I think the way the anime explored the very gendered behaviors of the two characters was pretty unique and interesting. You don't really notice just how different the socialization of cis-genders and how boys vs girls are raised to behave. There is a power to the masculine personality and presentation that is notably lacking in its feminine counterpart.

Your Name

Your Name was a super cute anime that intertwines romance and fantasy in a very much Freaky Friday esque way but with more reflection. One of the central themes of the anime is self-discovery and appreciation of one's life while also pushing yourself past your boundaries. The body-swapping element of the story, where the rural girl Mitsuha and the city boy Taki, wake up in each others bodies and live out their dreams of if they were in that setting. Connecting to the Foucalt reading, we can see parallels in the exploration of power dynamics. In Your Name, we see power exercised through multiple force relations rather than a single external authority. One example of this can be seen in the scene where Mitsuha is in Taki's body and uses the wrong first-person pronoun and gets corrected, a form of gender policing. We can see how this policing is not from a governmental authority but rather from Taki's peers as they correct him even on his local dialect. Personally relating, I think it is easy to want what you do not have. For example, when I am in Gainesville on campus it is easy for me to miss Atlanta but when I am in Atlanta I miss the small town feel of Gainesville. Additionally, I agree with the film in some ways about how small town values like relationships and traditions are extremely important for national identity formation to an extent. For example, when Taki is in Mitsuha's body he deeply appreciates the Shinto ceremonies that Mitsuha was embarassed about showing how if you reframe things in your mind you can find a deeper connection. By analyzing Your Name through the lens of Foucalt's theories on power and discourse as we can see the power dynamics and power of cultural narratives.

[sophiamenet]

Hetalia

I’m not sure how I feel about this show. It’s entertaining and amusing, but it feels fundamentally wrong to depict history - especially historical events as serious and devastating as the world wars - in a light and childish manner. The cutesy and inaccurate representation of the nations was odd but what I expected from this show, and is why I didn’t really like it. It honestly made me uncomfortable to watch such an innocent portrayal of both the Axis powers and the Allies. I find it curious how this anime is catered to a female audience and young female viewers. What about its concept as a retelling of history in the mid and late 20th century would then result in Hetelia being specifically for a female audience. The nations, powerful countries, are emasculated through their personified, weaker and more effeminate character representations. This adds an element of humor and satire since it is ridiculous to see cutesy silly characters as the countries they represent, which historically have committed horrible atrocities. They adopt distinctly queer characteristics, and in a sense, act to devalue them and their power through their queerness so that viewers can like the characters without any moral flaw or guilt, as they are so far removed from what they represent.

Germany is the most masculine presenting country, and often acts as a more stabilizing, rational force within the anime (though at times violent) and is portrayed in a less blatantly deprecating way, unlike the original three Allies and Italy. Similarly, Japan is depicted as a small, reticent young man. There is a complete erasure of the reality of extreme aggression and violence of imperial Japan. Of course, in this light-hearted and satirical show, I wouldn’t expect there to be a serious portrayal of those sort of things. Still, to focus on the world powers in this time period and not acknowledge history in its entirety bothers me. I found the jabs at the Allies to be funny, I’m always in support of people making fun of the US and Western Europe. However, the generous portrayal of Germany and Japan is kind of frustrating.

[sophiamenet]

Your Name

While I’ve heard of the movie, given how popular it is, I had never actually watched it before, nor did I really know the plot/story line. The time travel bit was a big shocker to me, I was really surprised when Taki went to the village and found out it was destroyed. The whole time traveling aspect was a bit confusing to me but there's no need to try and understand it logically so I'm not even gonna try. As for the assigned reading, how does Foucault’s “History of Sexuality” and his contemplation on and redefining of power apply to Your Name? While I'm unsure about the manifestations of power in the moive, I found there to be aspects of sex and sexuality - specifically in the markedly different and gendered behaviors/personalities of Taki verse Mitsuha. Taki, in Mishua’s body, acts in a much more ‘free’ way than Mitsuha would typically act as a young woman in conservative Japan (particularly within the more traditional rural setting.)

Mitsuha on the other hand maintains her femininity in Taki’s body, making him appear more effeminate. These different behaviors of both - with a female body presenting and behaving in a distinctly masculine way and a male body in a feminine way - result in more queer presenting characters. Mitsuha even receives a confession from a girl at her school as a result of Taki’s behavior when occupying her body. Taki similarly is called cute by his friend, in reference to Mitsuha existing as Taki. This exchanging of bodies then also translates to an exchanging of sexualities, so that when Taki is Mitsuha, Mitsuha behaves as, and essentially is, a lesbian. This might be said also for Mitsuha in Taki’s body, however Mitsuha’s pursuit of Taki’s female coworker - said to be for Taki’s own benefit - introduces then a variation in sexuality and its presentation in the anime.

How this translates to power, aside from the manifestation of the general socialized dominance and agency of men verses the subjugation and traditional, stereotypical subservience of women, I’m not entirely sure. This movie definitely presents an interesting and unique exploration of sexuality. Even Taki and Mitsuha’s attraction to one another is unique, as it is an emotional attraction and connection rather than physical. Their love for one another goes beyond the corporal self, again presenting another variation in sexuality and its representation (which in media representations is typically is constrained to the physical.)

[sophiamenet]

I'm glad to hear that it's confusing to watch even for people that have already seen the show, because I had no idea what was going on and I still honestly don't know what I watched or watch happened. I really like your analysis of how masculinity is expressed in the show, and I find Asuka's character and her display of the typical hegemonic masculinity to be particularly interesting. It makes me curious to the intention of the creator of Evangelion, and why he decided to explore gender and sexuality in such a complex and generally never-done-before way. I really really liked Shinji's character. Not necessarily Shinji as a person but how we get to see him interact with his surroundings and respond. The way queer masculinity is explored and portrayed in Evangelion is honestly a perspective that I haven't really seen before, especially in a main character.

Neon Genesis Evangelion (Part 2)

Ah, now this is the true core of Evangelion - a constant state of confusion even if you've already seen the show, holding the same frame for so long you think the video is bugged, and a deeply philosophical and mentally exhausting ending that's largely a slideshow and is also only the first of the three wildly different endings this series gets. Honestly an amazing show. I'm not here to talk about how the show's lack of budget at the end kinda ended up making it more iconic though, so I'll move on now.

This set of episodes introduces both Asuka and Kaworu, who both present of a lot of ideas when interpreting the show through the lens of masculinity. From the moment Asuke arrives on screen, it's made very clear that she's meant to serve as a sort of foil to Shinji. Asuka is confident and prideful, she's good at piloting the Eva and she knows it. In essence, she's everything Shinji is not. Despite being a woman, Asuka performs masculinity "better" than Shinji does, as she's eager to fight and prove herself. Because of this, she ends up often teasing Shinji, needling him whenever she can. However, it also means that she doesn't respond kindly to Shinji performing better than her in anything, such as when he does best in the synchronization test. Asuka becomes extremely sarcastic, saying that since Shinji's Mr. Number 1, he should take the lead against the next angel and her and Rei can just stand back. This sarcasm reaches Shinji, but he, filled with rare confidence as a result of his performance, decides to take it seriously and tries to perform hegemonic masculinity - "Combat is a man's job," he says. Unfortunately for Shinji, he's immediately defeated by the Angel and nearly dies, very quickly squashing that confidence. I suppose this could be interpreted as a sort of warning of how trying to perform a masculinity that one does not fit into can go poorly.

With Kaworu, the case is very different. Kaworu is a very important character, both for the plot and for Shinji's character (that's why he's the biggest face on the poster despite literally being in a single episode). For Shinji, Kaworu is the first person he feels comfortable with. Kaworu is the first person to tell Shinji they love him since Shinji's mom died, and is the first person Shinji can say he loves in return. Given how brief their time together is, it's impossible to really say how much romantic feeling there is between the two (though plenty of fans would argue that there is substantial amounts), but regardless, there is clearly a level of intimacy and vulnerability. This is important because in hegemonic masculinity, men are not intimate with perhaps anyone but their wife, and especially not with other men, and even more so, men are not vulnerable. For a man to show vulnerability is for him to show weakness, and for a man to show weakness is for him to not be a man. Thus, Kaworu making Shinji feel okay and comfortable with being intimate and vulnerable with him says that it is okay to perform queer masculinity. This can also be tied into the final episode too, as at the end of that fever dream, the realization that Shinji comes to and the final message of the series is that it's okay for him to just be himself and to want to be himself, even if he does not conform to what society may want from him.

[sophiamenet]

As soon as I started this series I also made connections between Evangelion and Mobil Suit Gundam. I think it's hard not to given their similarities (though really they are extremely different shows). I think comparisson between Amuro and Shinji are really interesting, because Amuro seems to be a perfect model of the homogenous masculine response to this situation, while Shinji's queer masculinity results in him having a very very different reaction. I like that you don't see Shinji as a coward and recognize his bravery in piloting the Eva in the first place. I absolutely agree you, and when he agreed to pilot and assume the pain and suffering Rei would have to experience, I personally found Shinji to be a rather brave and selfless person. Despite his fear, traumatic prior experience, and absolute distain for the violence of the Eva he accepts the position to protect Rei.

Neon Genesis Evangelion (Part 1)

Neon Genesis Evangelion is a giant robot anime much like Mobile Suit Gundam. Yet again we see a young male being the central character and being expected to pilot a giant robot to defend the world. The main character Shinji is 14, and gets recruited by his father to join NERV, an organization created to defend the world against “Angels”. Contrary to their name, Angels are actually horrifying monsters. Shinji and his dad don’t have a good relationship, so when his dad tries to recruit him (ie force him) into piloting the Evangelion, he’s not interested. His dad basically uses emotional blackmail to get him to do it by showing him a wounded girl named Rei, who will be piloting the unit if he says no. He’s basically got no choice at that point, and agrees (read: is manipulated into) to pilot the Evangelion.

Shinji is a character from the very start who believes he is a coward. He doesn’t fit into the traditional “tough guy” stereotype, he doesn’t want to fight, he’s actually pretty conflict avoidant. In actuality, he doesn’t seem to really be a coward, he’s brave enough to agree (even though he is being HEAVILY manipulated) to take Rei’s place as pilot.

The fact that his own estranged father is doing the manipulating is…something else. Like, sure, you’re a crappy dad and all, but why wouldn’t your MINOR CHILD want to be tasked with saving the world WITH NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO DO SO OR TRAINING? A-plus parenting right there. The dad is literally worse than the Angels, he’s incredibly nonchalant about putting kids’ lives in jeopardy. Like…buddy if you’re so concerned YOU pilot the Evangelion.

I have a distinct feeling we may see Shinji destroy himself in an effort to not be a coward, sort of similarly to Eddie from Stranger Things (cringe, I know, I don’t care). He’s another character that reacted in a completely understandable way but it wasn’t “brave” or “tough” enough for society’s standards so he ends up hating himself for it until he ultimately dies proving he’s not a coward.

[sophiamenet]

I think your inclusion of mans' ego being a driving force behind the anagonists of this film is rather accurate and brings up an interesting discussion on how inherent it is for humanity to expand and desire power. Of course I have no answer, but there seems to be two perspectives presented within Nausicaa itself, as the people of the Valley of the Wind seem perfectly content with their lives and coexistence with the toxic jungle and nature itself. However, those in positions of power and authority do indeed always seem to long for more power, more land, more everything. I think that rather than it being mans' nature to posses and expand, it is more the corruption of power. Nausicaa definitely comments on some interesting social and political issues!

The Relationship of Man and Nature in Nausicaa

I watched Nausicaa many years ago and only remember a couple of things about the movie, so I was pleasantly surprised when I rewatched the film and didn’t remember almost anything except a couple of scenes towards the end of the film. The movie encapsulates man's dilemma with nature, the constant fight over dominance of the planet. It is in our nature to look for more resources, expand, improve, dominate, and subjugate others to our will, so it is not in our plans to have other insects be more powerful than us and we can't stand it, our egos won't allow it. So in a world like this, a part of humanity is eager to reclaim the Sea of Decay and they will go to extreme lengths to do so by military force which involves using a God Warrior to destroy the insects from the Sea of Decay. These God Warriors are the agents responsible for the collapse of industrialized civilization, history was going to repeat itself and destruction would come again, in response another faction of humans is going to sabotage their plan by provoking the Ohms to attack the Village of the Wind where they had the warrior growing. It seems that humanity has learned nothing in this thousand years after the collapse of civilization, luckily Nausicaa is here to show us another way to resolve conflict and that is acknowledging the important role the Ohms and the Sea of Decay play in purifying the earth that humans have polluted, and to stop fighting between each other, there is always another method that could turn conflict into union.

I think often about climate change and other threats to our environment and how we like to think this is separate from us humans, we see nature as this separate aspect from us and that we must take care of it just so it won't fully die. In reality, we are part of nature, we also play a role in all of this so by not being able to understand this fact we tend to more easily destroy the earth we live on.

[sophiamenet]

I was also extremely confused watching the movie, as well as throughout the entirety of the assigned episodes. I honestly did not look it up or really try and understand what was going it, since I don't think I'd be able to understand in a way that does the show justice. I'm assuming the parts you don't want to mention are when Shinji masturbates to Asuka's unconscious body in the hospital and when he chokes her. Both of these are manifestations of the homogeneous masculinity which Shinji does not embody. These uncomfortable, violent moments are fundamentally against Shinji's queer masculinity and so against his character, making it even more disturbing and alarming for the viewers. Personally the emotional and gendered connections to the real world made more sense to me that whatever was going on plot wise...I think I'll have to rewatch this

The End of Evangelion blog:

So in this anime we see the near end of all humanity. The Evangelions win and defeat all of the Angels, but it comes at a price as everything is basically destroyed. I honestly was really confused watching this and was only able to understand the series because I looked up information on it to understand it better. It was a lot to comprehend and I barely did to be fully honest. Shinji’s mentality is extremely messed up with everything he’s gone through and I don’t even know how he’s alive at this point. Moving on, we see that Gendo and another secret organization called SEELE believe that humanity has reached its peak of evolution and can no longer grow. They believe the only way for survival is to become one and merge everyone’s existence creating one powerful entity. Gendo does this for personal and selfish reasons as he wants to see his dead wife again, but SEELE goes behind his back and hacks into all of the NERV super computers so they can carry out what they want, not what he wants. Shinji, along with Asuka, decide to stay in the real world as they would rather be there than in a fantasy world where basically nothing is real. I think the movie tackles more of an individualistic subject rather than masculinity. I honestly can’t really make that many connections to masculinity other than some parts that I’d rather not mention. I don’t really know how this relates to the real world other than that living in a fantasy world is not as good as it seems and that everyone has their own struggles and copes differently. Personally, I can’t really relate to this at all other than some of the aspects of the struggle with mental health, but other than that I can’t really relate to much of it. Overall, I was just in confusion and was kind of like “what is going” while watching it but it was interesting to say the least and would recommend for others to watch it.

[sophiamenet]

I was also fascinated by how environmentalism was explored in such a different way that what I had previously encountered, so much so that it feels like a bit of an odd take to me. I like that humanity and nature are so deeply intertwined, and that humans take an active role in restoring the nature which they have destroyed. Still, it feels strange to me that the natural world which they exist within is a recreation rather than nature in its original, purest form. While humans are direct participants in nature as you said, its almost as though they have made nature their own and possessed it in a sense - at least that's how I interpreted it. If that is the case, I feel more inclined towards the approach of Nausicaa which you spoke about in the beginning, and giving the natural world the space to restore itself.

XenoBlade Chronicles 2- Analysis

Prior to this reading and watching the cut scenes of Xenoblade Chronicles 2, I hadn’t really considered the different meanings of ecological stories. I could recognize that the intent of the media was to convey how the audience should participate in saving the planet, but not necessarily how. This was mentioned in the lecture of Nausicaa: The Valley of the Wind, but there was a point made on how Nausicaa technically didn’t do anything to help the planet environmentally. She stopped all of humanity being pummeled by Ohms and we can assume inevitably aided with the Toxic Jungle salvaged from the effects of the war that occurred a thousand years ago. Yet, this type of activism can still be considered as a pacifist method because she didn’t convert the topsoil back to its pure state, nor purify the air or water so they were consumable again. The healing of the earth was done through evolutionary ways of nature.  

In context of XenoBlade Chronicles 2, I was a little confused by the plot of the game cut scenes and had originally thought that the game was similar to Wall-E. Wall-E follows the storyline of a futuristic existence where humans can no longer inhabit their planet and must use outside methods as to maintain humanity, which is apparent in XenoBlade as humans must live on Titans to survive. However, in XenoBlade, we see that humans take a proactive approach to save their barren land through mechanical methods to artificially reconstruct life. Thus, it strays away from the objectification of nature that was mentioned in the reading as humans have broken that barrier of living outside their environment. They aren’t just protecting and preserving the world, forcing it to fix itself, but rather are a critical part of its development. XenoBlade is a fascinating game that separates itself from the common modern takes on environmentalism. It emphasizes humans as participants of the world and not just mere bystanders of nature.  

[sophiamenet]

Xenoblade Chronicles

I’m not much of a game person, so I think watching these clips and the detailed story-line was interesting and something new to me. The world building was intriguing, with the story taking place after an apocalyptic like event. The new world is one more removed from nature and the natural world, as humans live in limited, separated spaces available for habitation. In Xenoblade humans and the odd fantastical adaptations of animals that live alongside humans suggests coexistence of a sort between humans and the natural world. However the animals, if they are qualified as such, have taken on much more human qualities - therefore allowing them to be accepted into this new human society. Nature itself is separate from humans. Small ecosystems persist on the backs of Titans, separate and in segments, and the World Tree is an entity completely isolated and set apart from humanity structurally. In purpose and actuality, the World Tree also displays the interaction between humans and nature, as it contains relics of human history and past items from humanity. 

The concept of the crystals was also interesting to me. In a way they seem to replicate nature through their cyclical life, which serve as the foundation of the new way humanity has grown to live. I wasn’t expecting the end and the reality of this post-apocalyptic world being almost completely artificial. Its a simulation in a sense, though it exists within reality, so it isn’t in actuality. The extreme and complex technology used to create this new reality is not really present within it - only existing as its source. The archaic way of life in the new reality is wildly different to preexisting technological world and the advanced technology that created it. This game seems to be an odd intersection of humanity and nature, as humanity has significantly influenced nature to a point that it is essentially a human-made thing. Does nature in its purest form really still exist in this world then? It would seem that there is no part of the Xenoblade world that is not constructed and possessed by humans.

[sophiamenet]

Nausicaä

I grew up watching Miyazaki films, and Nausicaä has always held a special place in my heart as my mother’s favorite movie (though my family and I love all Miyazaki and Ghibli films). I can’t count how many times I’ve watched this movie. Many of Miyazaki’s movies contain a central theme of the interaction between humanity and nature and the subsequent destruction of the natural world. Nausicaä, as one of his firsts, is no exception. The toxic jungle and its spreading is in response to human interference and destruction. They respond to the natural world as something to be possessed and used by humans, transforming the world into an arbitrary battle for land and materialistic, ultimately worthless things. The Valley of the Wind is a small kingdom that values and coexists with nature, living within their means and creating a sustainable society. As a young girl watching this movie the image of Nausicaä surrounded by Ohmus and the golden field always stayed in my mind. Nausicaä, from the very beginning to the end, valued life above all else. To fear something is to not truly understand it. Miyazaki presents a critique of the human desire to control and posses everything, which ultimately destroys it to fit within the comfort zone of humanity. Nausicaä embraces the world without fear, simply longing to better understand it rather than control it. She coexists with the natural world and understands its pain at the hands of humanity. This tenderness and compassion is what saves her and her people, though she does not only embody the typical nurturing feminine traits. She is a dimensional character, and experiences aggression, rage, and grief - even killing a man. Kushana is similarly a dynamic female character, who one can both hate and sympathize with.

[sophiamenet]

Evangelion Part 3

I’m still incredibly confused and I don’t really plan on understanding this show. I felt like I was watching something profound and important but I have no idea how to decipher most of it. I want to better understand the role of sex and sexuality in this series. The physical closeness and intimacy of sex functions to fill a loneliness within the central characters - particularly Shinji. While there is no actual sex or real sexual intimacy there are scenes and dialogue centered around the idea and concept of it. The exchange and intimacy of sex exists in conflict with and along side the central characters of Shinji, Asuka, and Rei’s loneliness and feelings of abandonment. I’m not sure if the viewers are supposed to be able to distinguish what is actually going on when there is a complete mess of voices and visuals. It really feels like absolute chaos, and something too complex to grasp with just one brief run through of the show. I think the element of confusion and complexity is definitely intentional.and replaces Shinji’s own state of mind as well as being. He seems to be without a corporal form. He exists completely within his mind or some between, non-physical state of being. Shinji does and does not truly exist as Shinji. Who is he? What is his purpose, his intent? He knows nothing about himself and those around him, raised and living only to pilot the Eva. This is his great sacrifice and supposed pride, which has filled him with nothing but extreme rage and hatred.

Through the development of his anger Shinji’s more intimate interactions between women increase, along with the violence carried out against them. As he begins to adopt a more masculine sense of responsibility for his role, or his aggression that stems from fear and hatred, sexual undertones seem to become more frequent. His extreme act is to choke Asuka while she lays limp, as though willing. She the submissive girl, subordinated in the face of Shinji’s masculine aggression.

[sophiamenet]

Evangelion Part 2

I was confused during the first section of assigned episodes, but now I’m even more confused after finishing part 2 and the season. I don’t know what’s going on, but I honestly don’t really care to. It all feels a bit too confusing for me to try and understand right now. I did understand and like certain themes present in these episodes, despite not really understanding the plot and show as a whole. First the brief appearance of Kaworu and the homoerotic relationship between him and Shinji. Shinji never showed any prior interest in others. He regarded Ms. Misato and Asuka as family more than anything else, exhibiting very different behavior towards them than his school friends. Yet upon meeting Kaworu Shinji is for the first time flustered and blushing. He feels attracted to Kaworu immediately. From on outside perspective it feels as though for the first time Shinji feels seen by Kaworu. Everyone else around Shinji views him within the context of the Eva and his father, but Kaworu connects to Shinji on a personal level which he had previously lacked. He is then tragically forced to kill this one person who has made him feel comfortable within himself and his life. As a teenage boy, Shinji must decide between the distant fate of humanity or Kaworu and the connection that he has been longing for. Shinji ultimately kills Kaworu and his capacity for genuine, unburdened relationships. He is once again alone, and will continue to be.

This emotional attachment between Shinji and Kaworu is paralleled by an odd emphasis on a metaphysical sexual exchange between Shinji and the female characters around him - specifically Asuka. Within these relationships there is a lack of emotional connection, despite their shared traumas and experiences. His relationship with Asuka is particularly perplexing to me. Its back and forth minimal to extreme emotion and exchange confused me. Since I only watched the assigned episodes, I did not fully understand Asuka’s significance. What is the connection between her and Shinji? Is their relationship one only bound by shared trauma? Why does Shinji so violently begin choking her? Why does she simply lay there and allow it? I think I need to rewatch this show and research some good explanations…

[sophiamenet]

Evangelion Part 1

I’ve started Evangelion before but only even watched the first couple episodes. I’ve wanted to watch it for a while but I honestly could never get into it or bring myself to watch it knowing that it’s not exactly the most joyful show out there. I’ve enjoyed the assigned episodes so far, and it has of course reminded me a lot of Mobil Suit Gundam - specifically through the position of children in each show as weapons to be used. This concept is more deeply explored and more blatantly condemned in Evangelion. Immediately the viewers are shown the impacts on Shinji as a result of his first piloting of the Eva. Shinji, a child of 14, is forced into the Eva with no prior preparation or training. His life is easily risked by his father and authoritative figures, along with the lives of other children his age.

Shinji is told that he should be proud of himself. That he’s a hero for piloting the Eva with no experience. He supposed to be proud, yet all he remembers of the event is the overwhelming fear and pain he felt in the moment. This to me seems to reflect Connell’s ideas on masculinity, in which Shinji does not fit into the strength and violence associated with masculinity and the role forced onto him. Everyone around him expects him, as a ‘man,’ to revel in his victory, in the adrenaline and power granted to him - things which supposedly excite and invigorate the typical masculine figure. Even in his boyhood Shinji is expected to reflect these same sentiments and attitudes, yet he differs from the boys and men around him. Shinji is debilitated by what he experienced and wants nothing to do with the Eva and the power being forced onto him. I think when comparing Mobil Suit Gundam’s Amuro and Shinji in Evangelion, their conformity to traditional masculinity is the most distinct difference. Amuro is very much so the picture of a masculine young man who eagerly and willingly accepts his role of violence. He lives with the aggression very much the same - apparently unbothered by his role in the violence and destruction of war. Shinji then occupies the subordinated male position detailed by Connell through his dislike of violence and refusal to willingly posses power.

[sophiamenet]

I like that you highlighted the importance of a network and the necessity of having people to connect to and rely on. I really liked that Retsuko was able to connect with her two female coworkers that she started doing yoga with, and I felt they were an important relationship for her. She was finally able to feel safe and express herself in front of other people, rather than continuously suppressing her emotions until she was alone. Having a support system and someone to witness and understand your emotions is extremely important, and the fact that Retsuko was able to connect with other women who shared similar experiences and difficulties within the workplace was a relief.

Aggretsuko

This anime, featuring a red panda named Retsuko who works in a typical Japanese office, brilliantly addresses both specific issues in Japan and themes that resonate globally. At first glance, it’s a cute and humorous show, but it quickly becomes clear that Aggretsuko is a sharp critique of modern work life and societal expectations.

One of the key issues the anime tackles is the stifling office culture in Japan, characterized by long hours, rigid hierarchies, and gender discrimination. Retsuko's struggles with her overbearing boss, sexist coworkers, and the monotonous grind of her job highlight the stress and frustration many people feel in similar environments. These themes aren’t limited to Japan, though; many viewers worldwide can relate to the challenges of navigating toxic workplaces and the pressure to conform to unrealistic expectations.

What makes Aggretsuko particularly compelling is how it captures the universal struggle of balancing personal passions with professional responsibilities. Retsuko's outlet for her frustrations—screaming death metal at karaoke bars—is both hilarious and deeply relatable. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of finding healthy ways to cope with stress and maintaining a sense of identity beyond one’s job. This aspect of the show resonated with me personally, as I’ve often felt the need to find creative outlets to manage the stress of work and daily life.

Connecting Aggretsuko to broader discussions in assigned readings about work-life balance and mental health, the anime serves as a practical illustration of these issues. It reflects the pervasive impact of work culture on individual well-being and highlights the importance of community and support systems. Retsuko’s friendships and the support she receives from her colleagues play a crucial role in her journey, emphasizing the value of having a network to rely on. Aggretsuko is more than just a comedic take on office life; it’s a poignant exploration of the modern work environment and the challenges it poses.

[sophiamenet]

I also liked how Usagi continued to maintain her character even after she got her powers and identity as Sailor Moon. She is still able to exist as a young teenage girl and experience childhood with little heed for other worldly issues. This is also something that bothered me a bit, considering she exists entirely within her own bubble. Still, I liked her character and expression of 'girlishness', I thought it was cute though it also made her character very superficial. Femininity and substance can coexist, yet Usagi is generally depicted as a very vapid girl, only occupied by her feminine nature. I would have liked her to be a more dynamic character, empowered both by her femininity and herself. Personally as a very unfeminine girl, Usagi's character does not resonate with me, nor do I feel empowered by her and the concept of girl power. However this of course is not the case for everyone, and I do appreciate its beginnings in reclaiming the female identity and existence from men (though this is not done in Sailor Moon).

Sailor Moon Blog

Although I didn’t get the opportunity to watch Sailor Moon before, it is definitely something I was aware of as a kid due to its very influential nature. Even as I grew older, I always thought the show had beautiful aesthetics. Personally, I’m a fan of magical girl anime and I love how they all over express femininity in order to reclaim it and empower it. I'm glad I finally got the opportunity to watch it. Sailor Moon deals with themes of “girl power” and gender. 

In Sailor Moon, we follow a schoolgirl called Usagi who gets her powers from a cat called Luna. Using these powers, she fights off villains to protect the universe. Despite having powers and fighting off villains, Usagi remains true to herself and still acts like a normal 14-year-old girl would. She still cries and is sensitive, she's clumsy, and doesn’t do well in school. Overall, I like how this anime still has Usagi act like a normal girl. By having her act normal it helps empower little girls instead of hiding their femininity. Through not hiding her femininity and also making it her strength, it has inspired many little girls who watched it growing up. As a little girl if I watched Sailor Moon, I'd definitely feel empowered. Even though Usagi's has many flaws she still fights evil and remains true to herself. 

Despite the show having some criticisms of Usagi being a stereotype or how it has sexual connotations. I think the show uses stereotypes to not put down women but instead empower them to embrace their femininity. Even though in a western perspective the show can have sexual connotations, I think the show is made for the female audience and to embrace femininity. Overall, I really loved the aesthetics and premise of this anime. 

[sophiamenet]

I really like your analysis and understanding of the show! Personally I definitely cried at various points of this show. I also thought it was a very tender and heartfelt depiction of the experience of youth, and the very important experience of lqbtq+ kids that is often overlooked. I have not seen many if any shows that show the developing identities of both ftm and mtf youth, and I've seen very little media and representation of trans people in general, which is why I was very glad to discover this show.

Wondering Son and Transgenderism

Hello all! I finished yet another anime series that I was assigned. This anime, Wandering Son, was a very heartfelt series that nearly made me cry due to how the themes of the show reflect that of real-world issues people have to endure. Here is my analysis of the anime:

 Wandering Son (Hourou Musuko) is an anime that explores the complexities of gender identity and adolescence. Following the lives of Shuichi Nitori and Yoshino Takatsuki, two middle school students grappling with their gender identities, the series delicately addresses issues that are both specific to Japan and universally relevant.

In Japan, where societal norms are often rigid, Wandering Son provides a rare and sensitive portrayal of transgender experiences. The characters must go through the challenges of expressing their true selves in an environment that can be unaccepting and harsh. This depiction reflects the broader societal issues of acceptance and understanding of gender diversity, which are still evolving globally. The struggles of Shuichi and Yoshino resonate with anyone who has ever felt out of place or misunderstood due to their gender identity.

Globally, Wandering Son's themes of self-discovery, acceptance, and the courage to be oneself are universally relevant. The show challenges viewers to reflect on their perceptions of gender and encourages empathy towards those who are different. By focusing on the internal experiences of its characters, the series highlights the emotional depth and humanity of transgender individuals, fostering a deeper understanding and acceptance.

In connection to assigned readings and viewings, Wandering Son aligns with themes of identity and societal norms explored in works like "Psycho-Pass." Both series challenge rigid societal structures and emphasize the importance of understanding and accepting one's true self. The portrayal of the characters' journeys in Wandering Son offers a nuanced perspective on the complexities of gender identity, much like the broader questions of identity and conformity in "Psycho-Pass."

In conclusion, Wandering Son is a very well crafted series that offers a tender and insightful look into the lives of transgender youth. Its exploration of gender identity, self-acceptance, and societal norms provides a meaningful and relatable narrative that resonates with viewers worldwide.