Weeks 5 and 6
Princess Mononoke
1) What is the ‘shojo’ and how does it often function in anime?
2) According to Lent
(2000) what place does animation occupy in Asian societies? How different is
this across Asia (i.e. comparing Japan and China)?
3)Is anime a high or low cultural genre/media, according to Napier (2005)? What are some of its subgenres?
4)Does Anime confront social issues? Gender roles in
Princess Mononoke.
Question One:
ReplyDeleteThe term “Shojo” is typically a heroine young female character who falls under a specific age usually 18 as she if bridging from a young lady to womanhood. Schodt, (1996) describes shojo’s are bug eyed cute characters with flowers to highlight emotions and sensitivity, who are always falling in love or dreamers. Napier (2005) suggests that this type of character is unusual, as Miyazaki’s portrayal of princess mononoke appears o be an active, inquisitive and independent character. The shojo characters displayed in Miyazaki’s work shows awareness of the increasing influence and centrality of young women in society. Her character is quite different from the shojo character type. Mononoke embraces her animal side which makes her different from the demure, domesticated and obedient stereotype of the Asian female.
References:
Napier, S. (2005). Anime from akira to howl's moving castle. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Schodt, F. (1996). Dreamland Japan writings on modern manga. Berkely: Stone Bridge Press.
Question Two:
ReplyDeleteAnimation began in Asia in the 1920’s. It started off from a Chinese animation which was heavily influenced by western principles. As many animations were heavily influenced by western culture, Lent (2000) states that China and Japan were insistent on adapting only those elements of foreign animation that fit their culture, never favoring full adoption. The main western influence was Disney. An example of this was China’s first full length animation called Princess with the iron fan. It does inhabit some Disney aspects but has its own twist. This inspired many other Asian countries to produce similar animations that includes the countries culture and values. According to Lent (2000) "animation was moulded to Asia through the use of indigenous artistic styles and techniques, such as paper fold, paper-cut, and ink and wash in China, or shadow theatre in China, Indonesia, and Japan, and localised plots based on literary, religious, or folkloric stories."
References:
Lent, J. A. (2000). Animation in Asia: appropriation, reinterpretation, and adoption or adaptation. Retrieved from: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/screeningthepast/firstrelease/fr1100/jlfr11c.htm
ReplyDeleteQuestion Three: Is anime a high or low cultural genre/media, according to Napier (2005)? What are some of its subgenres?
Napier (2005) defines anime as the shortened terminology for Japanese pronunciation which became the new English word which is referred to as ‘animation’. This was the beginning of the popularity of Japanese animation and how they became known to the Eastern and Western world. Anime is a popular cultural form that clearly adapts and performs on high cultural traditions. The media showcases some of the influences from recognised traditional Japanese arts, known as Kabuki and the woodblock prints. It also made use of the traditions and modern day technology with cinematography and captivating pictures. Also the issues explored across many of the texts are familiar to readers of existing ‘high culture’ literature. Unlike cartoons, anime is accepted and acknowledged by both children and the older generation. Anime is a genre that is very popular and important to the Japanese cultural making a mainstream pop cultural phenomenon. The animation films however are far more important than the Westernised or modernised animation films as they portray and convey high cultural literature.
The popularity of animation or even anime reaches Korea and influences some of the viewers in Korea.
Napier, S. (2005). Why anime? In Anime: from Akira to Howl’s Moving Castle (pp.3-14). Hampshire: Palgrave/ Macmillan.