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[velnote]

Existential Unplugged : A love letter to philosophy and rock

Let us be honest, philosophers don't get as much of a spotlight when it come to medias. Though once it does, I do feel they are very well made.

If "Ya Boy Kongming" made Zhuge Liang a manager for an idol, Existential Unplugged will be the other way around. The story follows Soren Kierkegaard, the Father of Existentialism, as he navigate his way through 21st century Japan after getting teleported from 19th century Denmark.

There he found out that people would listen to anything he said if it's presented within music, and thus, his road to rock has started. Accompanied by a music venue owner and banker Berry, Soren starts his journey to create a band, that is, also consists of other philosophers such as John Locke and Blaise Pascal.

Whoever wrote this definitely has a penchant for both rock and philosophy, as some of the rock references are apparent with the song featured and Berry's ways of analyzing music, while philosophy wise, is shown comically through the characters involved.

Is it historically accurate? I digress, I don't think this manga depicted the philosopher uber accurate, but is it funny and correct? Yes. It definitely does. The gloomy-manic Kierkegaard, jack of all trades Locke and prodigy Pascal is one way to put the trio so far.

Points that I like because they do adress them this in the comic:

Kierkegaard's debt and relationship with Andersen

Locke's prior experience as a doctor and amicable personality

Pascal viewing everything to have mathematical values and fondness for games

also, yeah, Pascal is kind of a trap here.

I definitely reccomend existential unplugged for those who enjoy works like classicaloid and ya boi kongming, especially if you love philosophy and willing to read as these nerds from 17-19th century navigate things out

[velnote]

BL, a Fantasy.

I, myself, as an artist, draw NSFW works at times. Like most people on the internet, encountering pornographic content here is like a rite of passage. You cannot escape that. Anyone that tell you otherwise is either lying or too sheltered and actually touches grass.

Especially as a female artist that likes Japanese culture, of course I ended up somehow in the fujoshi spectrum. Another rite of passage, I guess. I never met another female artist in animanga circle that is not a fujoshi or himejoshi to certain extent.

That actually raises a question including to myself.

How did I get here, why do I even like BL and Yaoi in the first place?

In the book Boys Love Manga and Beyond, this topic is the centerpoint of the piece.

The author themselves argue that BL in itself is a form of pornography, but the one that counteracts misogyny, that often become central to the genre. Does this means BL is merely a female fantasy? Yes, but fantasizing things doesn't equal perversion.

Pornography as a fantasy doesn't produce sexually perverse people. This is because the element of fantasy is that it's not real, nor will it be ever be a good thing to be real. The label fantasy in itself provide a barrier between our own headspace and the world. While it is fantasy, doesn't mean it's not reflecting the us as individual, there's a reason why these are meant to be read in private.

According to the interviews done by the writers, it is said that girls who are fujoshis can see themselves in the story, as anything, as long as it is part of the story. Some even see the these BL characteristic in men around them, in real life. Though the former can absolutely explain the dumpster fire situation, being tumblr and twitter itself on how ship wars happen from time to time. Fujoshi do be having crazy imaginations, and I cannot deny, it's kinda true, knowing what happened to every fandom when it comes to shipping.

Some can say that they like reading BL because they feel liberated from it, freeing oneself from gender identity. It is a fantasy for a reason, we know well it's not real and maybe will never be real.

[velnote]

on viewing historical figures

One day during anime conventions, I sold a bunch of historical prints. In which it ended up becoming a discussion between me and my customer.

Discussion on why am I doing this, drawing historical characters, literature, around those things. Interestingly, this discussion grew into a talk about this question: "How do you view history and how you love them?"

Personally, I've been viewing history as a collection of interesting stories on humanity. Soon, these interesting stories are more emphasized in biographies, in which it is where you'll find anecdotes, interesting personalities, and people's quirks. People being weird is not a new thing. People has been weird from the dawn of time.

"Do you know Adam Smith often sleepwalking and possibly schizophrenic?"

or,

"Humboldt is described like that one annoying friend, supportive, sociable, just a bit annoying and sensitive."

or,

"Mozart wrote a song about poop, titled Leck mich im Arsch (Lick my ass)."

Maybe for the last one, artistic people just built different.

Let alone knowing that, not a lot of people know them as people instead of figures. That's what makes the conversation intriguing, that most people think historical figures as figures, instead of a person with their own weirdness like you and I.

What I love about history is that it shows, humans never really change. There are no "back in my days", as people, it's pretty much the same. Just the environments, the technology is different. Looking at these figures as a person can make you feel that they are relatable, it's like looking at a reflection humanity in a different context, a different frame of time.

While true, these frame of time may show problematic things about them, like supporting slavery, eurocentric sentiment, etc. But in the end of the day, there are still people who are like that in our modern space, so my point still stands that.

People aren't that different, it's just the frame of time.

[velnote]

Never thought there’s a community for the manga! I’m actually relieved because honestly manga community is usually niche ;-;

[velnote]

Thoughts on “Make the Exorcist Fall In Love”

Been reading this during break and it’s a hidden gem amongst manga for me, so far as I can see.

I never imagined I would see exorcism presented in each action referring to a bible verse. As someone who loves biblical references and angels and demons and whatnot, this fits comfortably in my shelf.

I’ll try my best to not spoil anything here.

The manga tells us a story about a boy who is destined to be the world strongest exorcist, the only one who can defeat Satan when the time comes in his rebirth. Knowing this, the church raised the boy by teach him every single verse in the bible, and to live to it. Although the fact they call him “it” during the first chapter, they obviously look at him as a tool rather than human.

Our protagonist, the boy, or often called as Mr. Priest, practiced and use the word of god to ward off demons. As in using a literal bible verse about bringing sword to the world to summon a sword, or quoting a verse from Matthew about adultery to shook himself off from Asmodeus in his first battle. However this took a toll on him, leaving a trauma that hasn’t been healed ever since. It’s a recurring theme too in the recent arc (spoiler?)

I can see why the theme of lust and love is brought up in the first chapter, as it is about the journey of Mr. Priest to understand what is love. As it is his master’s wish for him to find love. Since due to the trauma, our protagonist hasn’t really understand the notion of love, growing up in an abusive environment and first known love the form of lust. 

Few years after the incident, Mr. Priest is assigned to protect Imuri Atsuki, an artist who is apparently being targeted by Satan upon his wake. This will be a journey of discovering the meaning of love between the two. There’s a catch though, Imuri is not human, but no one really knows about it.

The artstyle is maybe not for everyone (as most the comments said they look like a child), but I think it’s nice since it contrasted the dark themes of the comic.

I really recommend it to anyone that is interested in biblical references, occultism, or just someone who wants to rediscover love along with them.

[velnote]

I’m Vel, and welcome to my thought repository!

I often wished I am a philosophy or anthropology student, but alas, I’m a psychology student who thinks too much about life and commenting media, art and culture stuff

for my own art, this is not the place, but you can find it in @velfolio

this place is pure thoughts, essay and brain dumps. I hope you enjoy your stay!