tylercurry

[tylercurry]

Hetalia

Hetalia: Axis Powers was an extremely fast-paced anime with great entertainment value, and very vibrant color schemes. Although some people may watch the anime for deeper political messages, I just think that some of the ideas and relationships between the countries are meant to be amusing. I thought the commentary on different political allies and the nature of nationalism could potentially be applied to modern society at this date. The satire portraying the different countries and the stereotypes associated with their leadership was amusing and to me, helped explain the roles of different nations in the war. I thought the exaggerated stereotypes also commented on how an entire nation can sometimes be critiqued just based on one event or cultural trait. This can sometimes be uncalled for and in turn affects the way a nation is viewed in media and propaganda. North Italy and South Italy explores the idea of a divided nation and internal conflicts. Another explanation is the relationship between the Allied and Axis power which exemplified how grand scaled political rivalries form. I liked how this film truly encouraged me to think harder about how propaganda and nationalism is portrayed and how it is reacted to in history. I can apply this to my social studies which focus on how biases and propaganda affected the community of people within a country during times of war.  The viewing directly related to the reading described the communal reaction to the anime. It has become clear that such forms of media have become the most prevalent effective way to convey messages. The positive reaction implies that in the future it may become much more common to tell historic narrative through similar media.

[tylercurry]

Your Name

Your Name was a very telling anime as it depicted several different emotions which are typical to the discovery of identity throughout high school. Sometimes, It can be how we discover ourselves individually, however this can also come through us discovering our identity between others. The swapping bodies can also relate to my personal life as I have had to move several times and change the schools I have been at. Restarting life comes with challenges, and it can at times feel like I am becoming a new person. This is just like the challenges Mitsuha and Taki face as they have to adapt to drastically differently paced lifestyles of the other. Your name reflects the discussion of natural disasters on memory and the mental toll it has on the person. This opened up a conversation on the disruption of natural disasters in smaller communities. The survivors also struggle with opening up about the traumas they experienced, which has an impact on their memory. However, on the brighter side, the film discusses how communities come together in the wake of an event like this and are stronger in the end. I felt that the comment served as an underlying metaphor linking the event and the switching of bodies to how unpredictable life may be and the challenges that there are. However, by showing the resilience of the characters, this is a commentary on how life must go on and we are meant to overcome what we go through. I thought the History of Sexuality connected to your name with the idea of historical comparisons. History of sexuality explores power struggles and western societal expectations throughout history while Your Name explores history in the elements of Japanese culture throughout the Anime. Both explore how historical and cultural narratives shine through personal identities and societal connections. 

[tylercurry]

You make a great point about how he deviates from society's expectations, causing him grief. Everyone expects anything of him, and for this reason he is characterized as being less of a man, but he truly just expresses who he is throughout his own version of his masculinity I also like the image included,  before watching the series I didn’t realize that that scene was from this anime so I find it global reach very neat.

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.

[tylercurry]

 I really enjoyed your commentary regarding the actions of some verses and it follows the general consensus. This commentary could be leveraged in order to express how the ultra wealthy live disconnected from the rest of society yet still make major decisions. I also like how you went out of the way to highlight how you subject. The position was vital, showing C the differences between the characters and highlighting specific traits. Overall, I agree that this is a good anime, and it does its purpose of conveying a message about conservation of the environment.

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.

[tylercurry]

Once again, I agree with you about the general opinions/thoughts you shared regarding this part. I felt at that time it was very confusing as we move forward and backwards in time and also explore psychological states and emotion. The anime definitely offers something different to many others that we have viewed, but generally my thoughts due along with yours regarding the difficulty that arises when interpreting different topics presented during the climax. I also felt some frustration regarding Shinji’s actions and fear to respond.

Evangelion Part 2

Alright Part 2 is where I can actually get to writing. I wrote my part 1 blog almost entirely on Shinji so I'll start off by explaining what I meant by his “character development” that I mentioned in my last post.

Those last 2 episodes were probably super confusing. They probably felt like they came out of nowhere. Some people say it's an amazing ending, while others say it's horrible. Honestly, I don't know how I feel about it. I even needed the help of redditors to get a semi-understanding of what it meant without having the movies spoiled for me. Basically these two episodes are all about Shinji's self hatred and at the very end he comes to finally accept himself. Really, it seems to be that simple. Of course, I haven't watched the movies yet, so if there's more to it, that's probably why.

 Honestly, I knew that Shinji hated piloting the Eva, but I feel that we don't get a true understanding of his self-hatred until these last two episodes. You can say this is dumb, because it may seem like the writers just suddenly had Shinji hate himself, but personally I feel that the story had some obvious hints along the way. When people yelled or even hurt Shinji, he never defended himself. He always avoided problems. Someone who hates themselves, doesn't have the power to protect themselves. 

Alright, I should probably talk about some other characters. Rei still confuses me and I'm betting there's more info In the movies because it seems she has some connection to Shinji's mother. Rei's character development is basically her smiling and shedding a tear. She's attempting to find her humanity and sense of self even though she knows she is different from everyone else. 

Asuka says she's piloting the Eva for herself, but in reality she pilots the Eva as a coping mechanism for her mother. Her mother never cared for her, and the chance to become an Eva pilot meant that people would always care for her, unlike her mother. She believes that if she isn't the best, people will stop giving her attention. She believes that she'll lose any value she has. As of the ending of the series, Asuka is still in a depressive state, but I'm assuming she'll get back on her feet in the movies. 

Finally, I'll talk about Misato Katsuragi. At first, she just seems to be this strong, independent, happy, snobbish, beautiful lady. However, we later find out that she's dealing with some serious trauma of her own. Her dad, who she originally hated, sacrificed his life to save her. It left her confused as to whether she hated her dad or not. She unintentionally sought out things that reminded her of him such as her job and her boyfriend to fill the void left in her heart. At the end of the series, it seems to point out that she is scared of being alone. Her dad leaves her. Her boyfriend leaves her. She just wants anyone's attention and even seemingly makes a move on Shinji.  

Hopefully y'all didn't seriously read all 500+ word yapping session, but part 2 was definitely where the phique of the characters was delved into more. As for my opinions on Evangelion (before watching movies), I liked it, but I don't really understand the hype. 

[tylercurry]

I had a very similar reception as you while witnessing the scenes that you described. I found it a bit strange as it was something that I was unfamiliar with as I continued to watch the lures and reread the readings. It became apparent that the actions themselves had more symbolic value than they did literal value. The struggle for masculinity is one that could’ve been avoided with the case, but we have become so accustomed to the traditional standards that he felt like an outsider due to his version of masculinity.

End of Evangelion and Masculinity

This was my first viewing of End of Evangelion and concludes my Evangelion viewing. This movie was a lot. It was very confusing with a lot of imagery, symbolism, and many ideas that were set up in episodes that I did not watch. I think I would need to watch the series over again and watch the movie a couple more times to understand it actually. However, I can point out the masculinity shown in the movie.

We see at the start of the movie with a very disgusting scene Shinji masturbates to Asuka's lifeless body. This act comes off as disgusting, yes, but it also is very out of character for Shinji. He has stated early on in the series that he does not objectify women and does not find true arousal from those parts of a woman. However, here we see him show that he does find arousal from this since he was able to masturbate to it. This act is unimaginable if you think of Shinji as someone of queer masculinity, but if you see this as him accepting or trying to embrace some aspects of hegemonic masculinity it all makes sense. Additionally, we see that he is unable to embrace this masculinity. He finds himself disgusted by what he did and goes back to being an inactive shell. This may indicate that those who try and force a change in their masculinity will only find disappointment in what they have done.

By reverting back to an inactive shell he also reverts back to his queer masculinity and once again becomes a burden. He does not even attempt to save himself and gets Misako killed in the process. This implies that the way he is causes problems and only reinforces his view of himself as someone who is worthless in this society pushing him to be more and more desperate.

This desperation culminates in his dream world (whatever it is) where he is in a room with Asuka. He pleads for her help, but she refuses calling out his faults and pushing him on the floor into a hot pot of coffee. This is an extreme version of Asuka made in Shinji's head that shows Hegemonic masculinity, she is violent and ready to take charge of the situation. In desperation Shinji then snaps and starts to take on aspects of Hegemonic masculinity again by throwing the table and then choking Asuka, symbolically killing off the hegemonic masculinity that has tormented him while also embracing it in another extreme way. This shows once again that the embracing of masculinity not your own has disastrous consequences.

In my life, I can relate to Shinji's lost nature. There have been times when everyone felt like the aspects they demonstrated do not align with everyone else making them want to adopt those traits like he does. Not everyone has done the deplorable acts he has while trying to emulate others but the idea is similar.

Overall, End of Evangelion is a confusing mess, to say the least. I would recommend you to watch this if you are an expert in ep 1-24 of the base series and have 12 phds. The movie shows more of Shinji's character and his character struggles as well as his masculine journey of desperation.

[tylercurry]

 I agree with the point that you make that it is abundantly clear what the message being conveyed within the anime is.  Japan is a massive industrial country so it makes sense that there is heavy emphasis on the global impacts. disconnect with the United States as we are another industrial country and are said to be responsible for a large portion of global issues. In order to truly make a change, we must shift away from focusing solely on our capitalistic desires and rather align ourselves with a sustainable future.

XenoBlade Chronicles 2

I've heard a bit about this game before so I thought it was an interesting pick for the class. The anime is a clear cut comment on the relationship between humanity and nature. Basically, Klaus destroys the entire world and is trying to rebuild it. He uses nanobots and the titans in order to achieve this restoration. Humanity is clearly struggling with the absence of nature and would have completely died off if it wasn't for Klaus creating the titans. Humanities depictions of Heaven or “Elysium” is basically just a place that has nature within it. After living in a world absent of nature, humanity's greatest wish is simply to return to it. It comments on today's world that is actively harming nature. It's easy to destroy nature but hard to rebuild, and once it's gone, you'll wish you never destroyed it. So, we should preserve nature, so there is never a point in time where humanity is threatened by the absence of it.

What's interesting is that unlike in Nausicaa, it seems that nature has no way of naturally healing itself. Nature is completely reliant on Klaus and his plan in order to regenerate. Nausicaa gives the idea that nature can live independently without us but that we cannot live without nature. Xenoblade makes it seem that we are intereliant on each other. Personally, I think nature being capable on its own makes more sense from a current standpoint. We'd really have to mess up the world, for nature to not be able to survive without us. Ultimately, our job as humans is to simply not prevent nature from doing its purpose and preserving itself.

Anyways, like I said before Xenoblade is a clear comment on humanity's relationship with nature. We shouldn't harm nature for our own greed. We are reliant on nature to survive.

[tylercurry]

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind offered something very familiar in what it presented. The animation style lured me in with a sense of nostalgia and the plot was able to keep me engaged. As the sea of corruption begins to slowly overtake Earth we are exposed to a larger metaphor about how our actions are all closely intertwined and impact the state of the Earth as a whole. Nausicaä serves as a sort of environmentalist who respects not only her peers but also the biotic factors that surround her. The larger issue being commented on is learning how to live with an ever-changing planet and adapting in a way that will allow it to prosper. This closely relates to my personal life as I’m currently taking a class on biodiversity conservation. I have learned a lot over the past month and a half about how human interactions influence the ecosystem around us. Living in Florida I also feel that these issues are especially important to us as they have a more immediate impact. We are a state with a lot of preserved nature and a diverse ecological presence. For this reason learning to coexist with our environment is imperative to the sustainability of our future. There is no reading for this specific viewing, but one is not necessary as the messages conveyed are extremely clear. We must be responsible regarding our own futures and that of those around us as we make decisions that not only recognize the immediate benefits, but also take into account the possible setbacks caused by them. Overall, the viewing was very enjoyable and went beyond explicitly stating the issue by intelligently creating a fictitious world to symbolically send across a message.

[tylercurry]

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was very fascinating to watch and very different to other media that we have been expected to consume for this class.  The animation style of the video game also caught my attention because of how it mixed the anime styles that I’ve seen beforehand and also the 3-D animation style that many of us are familiar with. The viewing addresses the ecological impacts of humans on the earth and the finite nature of its resources. This relationship is symbolized by the Titans and how they suffer as they die. The issues discussed within the video game are extremely relevant not only in Japanese society, but globally. I can only speak on behalf of. I have witnessed within the United States regarding global warming, but it has been a hot topic of debate. Many politicians argue regarding the proper course of action that we must take in order to preserve the climate, unfortunately, these sorts of issues are not very straightforward. We often have to deal with a trade-off as we decide whether to prioritize the health of the planet or the economy. The reality is, we must strive for a happy medium in order to preserve our well-being. The viewing was closely tied to the reading as it depicts the ecological struggle that we face as humans. Some of the primary points being conveyed are how we must sacrifice some things that we consider to be normalized in order to preserve the planet. It argues that we need a cultural makeover, which is something that I can agree with as we have made it this far with solidified proof yet nothing changes. It also describes how politics come in the way when trying to find a solution which is an issue that was depicted within the video game throughout the continuous battles.

[tylercurry]

The End of Evangelion

 I was not very impressed by End of Evangelion, I felt as though it was unnecessary and sort of undid a lot of well constructed points within the original. Despite those differences, the reworking still addresses the same issues. It goes over how trauma and psychological impediments alter Shinji’s state of being and cause him to confront difficult personal issues. This being said, the Japanese issue being addressed by the anime is mental health and one could also argue that it is a portrayal of masculinity. This does relate to my personal life because I feel as though I’ve gone through many periods of introspection where I’ve had to assess my values and who I am as a person. I think that today it is a lot easier to speak about these issues but it still carries some level of stigma. At times, it can be very difficult to express one’s feelings and personal struggles and for this reason End of Evangelion is communicating an important point. At times I feel as a male that it is difficult to have these conversations with other guys because they may not take it as seriously. Shinji’s decision to take on his own issues rather than sweeping them under the rug demonstrates a fight against instrumentality and closely connects to the reading. The idea that males may not be as emotionally in tune as we should be is conveyed throughout the reading and arguably is the source of many problems. Overall, I think one of the understated points of the anime was to create a commentary surrounding the negative results of toxic masculinity. It presents these themes through a surreal mode with incredible entertainment value while simultaneously keeping viewers engaged with the internal conflicts.

[tylercurry]

Neon Genesis Evangelion Pt 2

 The second viewing of Neon Genesis Evangelion was much more interesting than the first part. This second viewing deals with much more thought-provoking and surreal topics than part one. The primary issue being addressed within the viewing was mental health. Shinji demonstrates erratic tendencies and repeatedly shows that he is mentally unfit. Within the last two episodes of the viewing the anime takes a more surreal route as we enter Shinji’s headspace and see firsthand just how much his mental struggles are weighing on him. Although I believe the issues portrayed within the anime are extremes and Shinji’s mental baggage is not all necessarily realistic, I think everyone can relate to the general issues being symbolized. Within the states and other western countries, mental health has been at the forefront of conversation as it receives more and more recognition as a genuine concern. Shinji also struggles to find his place within the world and suffers from a breakdown as he questions what his purpose is. Now more than ever this topic is being portrayed within the media and more attention is being brought to it. I believe that this representation is imperative as it makes those fighting similar battles aware that they are not alone. There is no reading to accompany the viewing for this part of the module, but I still believe that the reading regarding masculinity connects well to this specific viewing as well. This viewing just goes a little bit deeper into the psychological damage that can result from those with different forms of masculinity, not being supported. Holistically, I believe that the ending shows the start of a turnaround and clearly conveys the message that with proper support and recognition similar issues can be alleviated.

[tylercurry]

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion is an interesting anime as it seems to delve into a multitude of topics rather than just one. The first topic which is apparent is the effects of war on civilizations and urban areas. The Angel is a symbol for attacks against civilian spaces. The next Japanese and global issue which is brought to light from the viewing is how involvement in war affects soldiers and those fighting on the front lines. As Shinji begins fighting, you can see the mental toll that it takes on him. Extremely worried and put under immense pressure as he defends his city. I’ve never dealt with anything similar within my personal life, but the stress that soldiers are put under is a major talking point within American politics now. Many people argue that veterans suffer severe trauma yet do not receive proper support following their return home. Although I cannot personally relate to the topic, I do have family who have been subjected to this issue. My uncle fought in Vietnam and still deals with PTSD and other mental health issues as a result of the battle environment. This viewing relates to the reading as Shinji is not characterized as the textbook masculine man. He suffers from a lack of self belief, and also is not the most dominant or assertive when he goes about his decisions or actions. For this reason I feel as though he falls under the umbrella of a subordinated masculinity. Despite his lack of bravery, he still steps up to the plate when his community needs him and conveys how anyone has the ability to be heroic. The overarching message being conveyed from the anime is that we must stop promoting only one type of masculinity.

[tylercurry]

I am 100% on board with all of the points that you made. I thoroughly enjoyed the visual components and found them to be quite satisfying. A lot of it felt reminiscent of Pokemon and even some of the transformation scenes reminded me of the American cartoon show Ben 10. Something about the show made it really simplistic and the dialogue/story boards were very direct and easy to follow. I enjoyed this anime a lot more than most of the shows that we have seen and I would also be pretty likely to revisit it for both entertainment and to digest the underlying themes of female empowerment.

Sailor Moon

Although I have heard of Sailor Moon in various different occasions, and have family members who are highly enthusiastic about the anime, I have not actually seen it for myself. As for the overall visuals and simplistic story, I found the selected episodes to be enjoyable, as well as how anime offered a format of episodes that are easy to consume. Another area of interest in terms of the anime is how it can be partly seen as exploring the stereotypes and archetypes of the female gender, as well as that of the demographic of the protagonist, Usagi.

To go further into the overall visuals, I think the simplistic backgrounds and animation style help cement the anime’s aesthetic and establish key moments in comedy as well. The largest areas of visual intrigue in this anime are usually the magic-girl transformation sequences, as well as areas of character introductions. For instance, when the appearance of the princess in Episode 8 changed to that of a doll the movement was very fluid. As stated previously, another respectable aspect of the anime, in my opinion, is that it has a less episodic, plot-driven format, which allows for audiences to have a basic idea of the plot, despite not watching the episodes in order.

As for the show itself, I think it provides an entertaining experience, as well as explores a variety of stereotypes and archetypes of the female gender throughout the cast. For instance, the main motifs of the villainess’ (Queen Beryl) and her henchman’s, (Prince Endymion) plans are driven by stereotypes and archetypes of the female gender, such as using jewelry to sap away the energy of the people and cater to their interests. This also can be seen with the use of the star talent show contest and the talk-show romance-centered ploy. The use of stereotypes and archetypes can also be seen with Usagi and Naru talking about their interest in the mall.

Therefore, due to the anime’s format and simple visuals and storyline, I may check out more episodes in the future.

[tylercurry]

The idea that a lot of behaviors and actions are performative is one that I can get behind. I feel as a male that is quite common that in groups of other males that a lot of the time guys heighten their “macho personas” in order to impress others or gain acceptance. I also find the strife within the sibling connection to be intriguing. It may be a way in which the creator could convey that despite having many similarities, some people fail to overlook differences in opinions or way of life and allow intolerance to cause distance.

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.

[tylercurry]

Your writing was really fascinating, I had a particular interest of your description of how activities can serve as a means of bonding within fandoms. I heavily agree as when I attend a comic con last year one of the most memorable things that took place was being able to participate in a fake “duel.” I duked it out against other participants using fake swords to battle each other, I felt much more connected and got to forge relationships with some people that I normally would not through the established games/activities.

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.

[tylercurry]

I enjoy the interpretation of Setsuko as an “abnormal woman.” Rather than playing into a hand which she has been dealt and holding up social norms which would be expected of her instead she expresses herself artistically and demonstrates little interest in forcing herself to change for others’ comfort. Overall the show is definitely not like many others that I have viewed but the element of Setsuko’s necessity to overcome adversity is powerful and helps push the anti-establishment agenda.

Aggretsuko

Aggretsuko is a slice-of-life sitcom which follows the daily antics of Retsuko. Retsuko is an anthropomorphized raccoon who works a typical office job. The conflicts in the series are rather tame especially when compared with other anime like Naruto or Sailor Moon. Typical antagonists include Retsuko’s angry boss or the social conflict of awkward interactions with coworkers. What sets Retsuko apart is her signature talent: To unwind after a long day of hard work, Retsuko likes to belt heavy metal music at her local karaoke bar.

The series likes to explore and subvert traditional gender norms. Aggretsuko herself is a subversion of the “typical” woman. She’s a petite young woman who belts heavy metal. This is in stark contrast to who Retsuko is at work: a softspoken young woman who is generally a pushover. Some characters, though, due embody gender stereotypes. Retsuko’s boss, Ton, is a chauvinist manager who makes the young women do menial tasks around the office. In the form of an anthropomorphized pig, Ton clearly represents an oppressive patriarchy that Retsuko has to work for. Retsuko’s coworker, Tsunoda, is a stereotypical woman who acts ditzy and subservient towards men.

Throughout the series, the viewer is presented with the juxtaposition between those who conform to traditional gender norms and those who do not with the latter category largely filled by Retsuko. Retsuko is constantly confronted by hallmarks of traditional “womanhood”. She is yelled at for not being competent at work, she is pressured to get married and go on dates before she is ready, and she cannot cook very well (the series itself is animated in a very cutesy, bright art style indicative of programming geared towards young girls). Naturally, these conflicts frustrate Retsuko. She expresses these frustrations in the form of her art, heavy metal singing, and this gives her control she cannot get elsewhere in her life. Her singing is her way of reclaiming the agency taken away from her by society.

All in all, I would say I recommend Aggretsuko. Retsuko is a great role model for young women in the modern age (especially when compared to Sailor Moon), and any young woman would be proud to be like her.

[tylercurry]

convention

Last year I went to the Tampa Bay Convention Center to attend Tampa Comic Con. The experience was unlike anything that I had ever been to before. It was buzzing with lots of younger people as well as some adults. People arrived dressed in all sorts of costumes which imitated characters that I had seen throughout movies and shows. One group that particularly caught my attention were the Star Wars fans, they seemed to be the most prevalent group and they had nearly movie quality effects. I was thoroughly impressed as I viewed characters that I had only seen on screen come to life in person. It was clear to see how the Star Wars fandom was one of the biggest cult-like groups there. One characteristic that I found particularly interesting was the fact that the age ranges spanned from people as young as kids in elementary school to senior citizens old enough to be grandparents. It seemed as though the shared interest ascended beyond similarities that one would pick up upon for face value. Although Star Wars was just one example, I could list many more, for instance, the Marvel fandom. Despite the fact that most people could name the major Marvel superheroes, it was still truly impressive to observe how much these fans and the community knew about intricate details that most others would not. Even though there were many different pieces of pop, culture, and celebrities present at the comicon if I’m being honest, I was most excited to take part in discussions surrounding the Marvel cinematic universe. There were many interesting people and stations set up, but I was truly taken away by Breaking Bad’s fanbase’s reaction to Gus and his panel. That was the first time I have ever truly felt the passion that can be derived from finding a community that shares interest in the same sort of media. Considering the recognizability of many of the characters on display, you would expect there to be less anime fans, than live action fans but despite preconceived idea my thought process was disproved when I went to the second floor, and I saw thousands of people dressed up as characters from different anime that I was not too familiar with. Some characters that I did know that I could recall were Naruto, Ash Ketchum, and Goku. Although I did not grow up watching anime, a sense of nostalgia overcame me when I saw all of the characters. It was really neat to observe how each fanbase kind of had their own little culture. with recognizable quotes, characters, and settings. I’m not quite certain, but I believe that I even saw some cosplayers speaking in their own language. The level of dedication that went into becoming so immersed in their respective shows/movies was actually something that I found quite admirable. The convention was genuinely an intriguing and thought-provoking experience, but I do not think that I appreciated it as much as I would have if I had been more familiar with the content on display. For this reason, I hope to go back and revisit the stations and familiarize myself with the environment. I think this class has exposed me to so much more media and thought provoking themes than I would have if I simply continued to allow myself to consume content that was popular or mainstream. I would also like to see the difference between conventions in cities like Tampa versus San Diego or even one in Japan.