mireuvn

[mireuvn]

My top two shows I’ve watched for the class are definitely this one and Eden of the East. Though Eden might be a little higher up for me. This show definitely deeply relates to the reading. Both panopticism and the surveillance society are very relevant in the reality the characters live in. It’s interesting you bring up the relation to the government. A lot of the characters definitely did not like the way the system worked but simply kept the status quo.

Psycho-Pass

Hey everybody! This week, I had to watch Psycho-Pass, and I must say, it is rivaling Eden of the East as my favorite show I've had to watch for class so far. I absolutely loved it and found so much of the story incredibly intriguing. While it is obviously a bit of an extreme, I feel like our society could be heading towards the society in the show. With all the upgrades in technology nowadays, who knows where the country may be headed and how said technology will be used. I feel this show may have been the most blatantly obvious so far when it comes to trying to tie the show to the idea talked about in the module. We see surveillance and Panopticism throughout the entire show in multiple ways. Everyone in the city is constantly monitored, without fail. Since everybody knows they are being watched, they stay out of trouble and try to be a model citizen so they are not punished. This is textbook Panopticism. Everybody is being watched, everybody is aware they are being watched, and nobody wants to mess up. All the citizens know the effects of having a high crime coefficient or a cloudy psycho pass, so they all try their very best to avoid it at all costs. The society in the show feels almost like a circular prison, which is, well, not ideal, to say the least. I also feel the show had much to say about the state of many countries and their governments. The people in the show just had to deal with the system, even when many people clearly disliked it and thought it was wrong. I feel this show speaks heavily on governments being too overbearing and unfair to their citizens. The government does as it pleases, and that is it. The best representation of this was in the old lady in charge of the MWSPD, who turned out to be the Sibl system herself. Overall, I thought this show was incredibly interesting and thought-provoking, and I definitely recommend it!

[mireuvn]

Psycho-Pass

The anime I watched this week is called Psycho Pass. It follows a really interesting premise of a society where everyone’s mental state is constantly monitored and given scores based on how likely they are to commit crimes. It follows the police and the new system they have in place based on this surveillance.

The people in the show live in a surveillance society. Their mental states are constantly monitored and if the color or number assigned to their state of mind becomes clouded or too high they can be arrested and forced into rehab. Letting a system do all the work of determining what’s right and wrong was a really interesting premise. It really relates to real life as technology becomes a bigger and bigger part of people’s lives. With systems like AI becoming more and more accurate and so much money being invested in it. Aswell as our own telephones being about to listen to us all the time, using facial and fingerprint recognition software to log into our devices, and us giving our data out to everyone on the internet.I can see a society similar to that occurring if we’re not already there. 

Throughout the story we learn of a man named Makishima who can do whatever he wants without his psycho pass showing anything unusual. This begs the question if machines can be trusted to always be right. If machines are made by humans and humans are imperfect how could a machine be correct 100% of the time? Makishima runs experiments to give people their impulses back in violent ways. He believes that life isn’t worth living without the danger, risks, and dreams. Society makes everything systematic. People take aptitude tests and simply do what the Sybil system tells them to regardless of if they want to. They do what the machines tell them they’ll be good at doing without taking anything into their own hands, or making any decisions.

[mireuvn]

The angle you took on the dangers of vr and other technologies is really interesting. Using the inability to logout to parallel the purposely addictive nature of the internet was very insightful. I hadn’t thought about the loneliness that online forms of socialization can cause. Juxtaposing loneliness versus social media meant to connect is impactful. Balancing digital and physical world in a growingly digital one is definitely a big issue we’re facing today.

Trapped in the Game: Is Sword Art Online a Warning?

Sword Art Online (SAO) isn't just a thrilling anime; it's a mirror that reflects our growing dependence on and the potential dangers of virtual reality. The premise: trapped in a VR game where death in-game equals death in real life. This may be fictional, but the underlying concerns about technology's impact on mental health, isolation, and societal control are very real, especially in Japan and increasingly globally. 

The series immediately throws viewers into the deep end which mimics the anxieties about the psychological and social consequences of immersive VR. The inability to log out symbolizes the addictive nature of technology and the risk of social withdrawal, a phenomenon akin to "hikikomori" in Japan, where individuals isolate themselves, often retreating into digital spaces. Globally, the rise of immersive gaming raises similar questions about balancing digital engagement with real world connections. 

SAO's protagonist, Kirito, begins as a solitary player, highlighting the potential for loneliness and disconnection within online spaces. While these platforms can connect people, they can also emphasize feelings of isolation, especially for those struggling with real world relationships. The stark divide between online personas and reality, depicted through betrayals and in game deaths reflects the growing issue of social media induced isolation where digital interactions sometimes replace genuine human connection. 

The introduction of the AI, Yui, highlights the psychological toll of prolonged virtual exposure. This exposes the vulnerability of users and the importance of mental health in digital spaces. Real world parallels include rising mental health issues linked to excessive screen time, cyberbullying, and addiction. Japan's increasing suicide rates and social withdrawal, potentially fueled by pressures both online and offline, further emphasize this concern. 

The revelation of Heathcliff's true identity as the game's manipulative creator, Akihiko Kayaba, serves as a powerful metaphor for the dangers of unchecked control within digital spaces. This resonates with real world anxieties surrounding data privacy and surveillance. The question of how much power these entities should wield over our virtual and physical lives remains a critical one. 

SAO's fictional world of digital traps and virtual battles reflects very real, relevant issues in our tech driven world. As we embrace the digital future, we must ensure that virtual experiences enhance, but not compromise, our mental health, social connections, and personal autonomy. SAO serves as a stark reminder of the need for balance, a balance we must all strive to achieve. 

What are your thoughts on the growing role of virtual reality? How can we strike a balance between the virtual and real worlds? Share your thoughts below! 

[mireuvn]

Trapped in the Game: Is Sword Art Online a Warning?

Sword Art Online (SAO) isn't just a thrilling anime; it's a mirror that reflects our growing dependence on and the potential dangers of virtual reality. The premise: trapped in a VR game where death in-game equals death in real life. This may be fictional, but the underlying concerns about technology's impact on mental health, isolation, and societal control are very real, especially in Japan and increasingly globally. 

The series immediately throws viewers into the deep end which mimics the anxieties about the psychological and social consequences of immersive VR. The inability to log out symbolizes the addictive nature of technology and the risk of social withdrawal, a phenomenon akin to "hikikomori" in Japan, where individuals isolate themselves, often retreating into digital spaces. Globally, the rise of immersive gaming raises similar questions about balancing digital engagement with real world connections. 

SAO's protagonist, Kirito, begins as a solitary player, highlighting the potential for loneliness and disconnection within online spaces. While these platforms can connect people, they can also emphasize feelings of isolation, especially for those struggling with real world relationships. The stark divide between online personas and reality, depicted through betrayals and in game deaths reflects the growing issue of social media induced isolation where digital interactions sometimes replace genuine human connection. 

The introduction of the AI, Yui, highlights the psychological toll of prolonged virtual exposure. This exposes the vulnerability of users and the importance of mental health in digital spaces. Real world parallels include rising mental health issues linked to excessive screen time, cyberbullying, and addiction. Japan's increasing suicide rates and social withdrawal, potentially fueled by pressures both online and offline, further emphasize this concern. 

The revelation of Heathcliff's true identity as the game's manipulative creator, Akihiko Kayaba, serves as a powerful metaphor for the dangers of unchecked control within digital spaces. This resonates with real world anxieties surrounding data privacy and surveillance. The question of how much power these entities should wield over our virtual and physical lives remains a critical one. 

SAO's fictional world of digital traps and virtual battles reflects very real, relevant issues in our tech driven world. As we embrace the digital future, we must ensure that virtual experiences enhance, but not compromise, our mental health, social connections, and personal autonomy. SAO serves as a stark reminder of the need for balance, a balance we must all strive to achieve. 

What are your thoughts on the growing role of virtual reality? How can we strike a balance between the virtual and real worlds? Share your thoughts below! 

[mireuvn]

Sword Art Online

One of the anime I watched this week was Sword Art Online. Initially I was skeptical about watching this anime due to what I’ve heard about it and people who watched it. I was pleasantly surprised with how normal the show was while watching it. The story of Sword Art Online is about a boy who’s transported to a different world through playing a video game. 

It addressed issues in the world and Japan by showing why certain people become NEETs. The main character Kirito alienates himself from other people in the game and calls himself a BEATER for being a beta tester and through that advantage he felt as if other people’s deaths were in his hands. Most people in the game end up joining up into different parties and guilds but Kirito tries to keep to himself. He calls himself a solo player and actively avoids working and being with other players. Based on the fact we saw his sister going to school and him staying at home to play SAO it’s a reasonable assumption to think he’s a NEET. Also the fact that he was a beta tester and was able to play the beta for a longtime while forgetting about society and social obligations.

It has big connections between the reading due to the fact it could be seen as a representation or a simulation. The world of SAO is used by most mmorpgs and due to that it could be considered a representation of those types of games. However, it can also been seen as a simulation of real life with having to eat sleep and live in civilizations and communities despite the fantasy setting. It could also be said that mmorpgs are simulations 

I found Kirito’s character somewhat relatable in his shyness and social aversion. I felt feel like i also often take up responsibility to people who I shouldn’t and don't have any actual responsibility over.

[mireuvn]

I didn’t pick up on the instability due to the financial shut down of the time. “Eden of the East” being an allegory for globalization is also an incredible insight as that’s exactly how the internet started out. Open and free with all different people simply posting and learning about each other regardless of distance. We both agree that the Selecao seem to use their power to manipulate things through their personal view of the world but I didn’t pick up on the fact that it reflected the economic imbalance of Japan.

Eden of the East

“Eden of the East” begins when a young man named Takizawa wakes up in Washington D.C. with no memory of who he is or how he got there. He meets a young girl named Saki, who decides to help him out. The 2 come to find out that Takizawa is involved in a game in which participants, known as Selecao, have access to 10 billion yen and the power to use it to shape events in the world. As the series goes on, they come to realize that Takizawa’s amnesia was not an accident and was tied to a much deeper conspiracy. As the series comes to an end, Takizawa must confront the choices he has made and the consequences of the power he holds. In the final moments, Takizawa faces the true masterminds behind the game and must make an important decision about the future of Japan, and possibly the rest of the world.

“Eden of the East” serves as a strong representation of economic struggles in Japan. This is shown through the unstable and corrupt society that the characters are forced to navigate. The Selecao game itself, with the bulk of power and influence in the hands of just a few people, reflects the economic disparity seen in Japan during its financial downturn. The anime works to challenge the economic stability of traditional government systems to portray how individuals can use personal resources to manipulate events to benefit their own personal or cooperate ideologies.

The anime also alludes to modern day globalization. “Eden of the East” introduces an extremely interconnected world, where a decision made in 1 country could lead to global consequences. With the almost immediate methods of travel and communication that are available today, countries are continuing to become less isolated from one another. Leaders from all over the world now are basically forced to come together and create agreements or alliances in order to retain health and safety for the general public.

[mireuvn]

Eden of the East

One of the anime I watched this week was Eden of the East. I found it to be a really compelling story about the issues in the work society of modern Japan. It uses a group of bourgeois whose goal is to fix the problems with Japan to talk about more issues than just the workforce. Each member of this group is given a phone with 10 million yen in it and can ask the attendant in the phone to accomplish anything at a cost of that 10 million. Each member is given a different number and each person was chosen randomly. The way each character chooses to fix Japan’s problems has to do with their personal life experiences.

One of the main characters Akira Takiawa is given one of these phones and he deals with NEETs to try to fix society. Akira believes that these NEETs are doing some form of rebellion by living outside of society. His views on jobs is shown through how he treats Saki Morimi and the other characters around her that made the Eden app. He believes that they shouldn’t have to go and work for the companies that are gonna use and abuse them for capital gain. 

I relate personally due to the fact that I am in college and unsure of what to do after. I went to school because I was told that was what I had to do to get a good job and upward mobility but the amount of good jobs is decreasing while cost of living is increasing. One of the career avenues I’m interested in’s market is especially over saturated and I’m unsure of how my future will turn out. I feel like this is the future the characters who created Eden are facing and how they are feeling about it.

[mireuvn]

I agree that one of the central themes in Spirited away was the greed of the workers. It’s really interesting how you made the correlation between Yubaba taking their names and how capitalism makes workers into machines. It shows how they both rid people of their identities for profit. We both agree that those on top in these systems are often treated better. Your take on Boh and privilege is interesting too as Boh was able to learn about different work from a young age.

#1: Spirited Away

Before watching this movie, I wasn't that familiar with Studio Ghibli films, with the only one I watched being Howl's Moving Castle. Even though I've seen a lot of fandom content surrounding their movies, I never got into it. However, I ended up really enjoying watching this movie, it was interesting to see a colorful cast of characters, as well as the beautiful painted environments.

I feel like this film covers a variety of issues, including greed, capitalism, and privilege. A part of the movie that stood out to me, were the workers who, consumed by their own greed, kept feeding and tending to No-Face so they could get more gold. As a result, No-Face becomes a monster, representing how greed changes people for the worse, including itself when it is unable to get Chihiro's attention. It is when they finally leave the bathhouse and expels all of muck inside themself that they realize they cannot buy Chihiro's friendship.

The greed of the workers also ties back into the issue of capitalism as they work for money. Yubaba, head of the bathhouse, makes all of the rules and keeps the workers at the bathhouse by taking their names away. This indicates how in capitalism, workers become more akin to machines than they are human. Her lavish, embellished room compared to the humble servant headquarters show that in capitalistic society, those at the top will often be the ones to profit the most from the workers at the lower level.

As for privilege, this is seen through the Boh, the giant baby, who acts childish and spoiled in the beginning. He was sheltered from the world, and only wanted things to go the way he wanted. However, after adventuring with Chihiro, and facing the real world, he is able to somewhat understand the work that others put in to make things happen. When Boh transformed into a rat, he was carried around by the bird servant, but towards the end, Boh rejects being carried by Chihiro upon the crow servant being tired, and instead he carries the crow on his back.

[mireuvn]

Spirited Away

The movie I watched today was called Spirited away by Hayao Miyazaki. It’s a story about a family that’s transported into a spirit world where the parents turn into pigs and the daughter has to get them all back. 

The viewing addresses issues in society regarding money and its effects on people. The character No Face is able to create objects and he uses them to lure people in to eat them. The workers in the bath house start sucking up to No Face so that they can get the gold he has because it acts as money in the spirit world. This greed ends up with many of the workers in the bathhouse being eaten.

Another instance of this greed is with the main character, Chihiro’s parents. When they pull the car over to investigate the strange opening in the wall her parents are attracted to the food they see. Instead of leaving the food alone her parents start eating it as if it’s an open buffet. They rationalize it by saying they have money to pay for it but to eat without first asking for permission or making a trade is selfish and greedy.

The viewing does relate because I often over emphasize the importance of money over other things. In many of my decisions money is an important factor but I believe I think about that factor too much. I’m exploratory and in exploring my different major options the outcomes of certain majors are a big part of what my final major will be.

There’s a connection between the anime and the readings because capitalism breeds greed. The need to compete and outperform to afford to pay for your basic needs leads other people to not have enough. Regardless of whether those other people are trying their best as well, the scarcity and individualism that capitalism causes ensures that there will be someone on the bottom of the ladder. This competition makes those who have always want more and those without never able to get what they need.

[mireuvn]

Your analysis of the anime was amazing. I like how you dive into the emotional side of the anime and how it really shines at showing human connection. The emphasis you put on certain scenes helps me see them in a new emotional light I never thought about before. Like how truly moving it was for Mari to join Shirase. It helped me see how the characters in the show were able to put aside their insecurities and truly give achieving one thing their all which is inspiring and how everyone should go after what they want.

An Adventure that Inspires Reflection: A Place Further Than the Universe.

A Place Further Than the Universe is more than a simple anime about a group of friends traveling; it is an emotional journey highlighting universal topics, such as friendship, courage, adventurous spirit, self-discovery, and independence.

This anime's amazing animation and music captivated me, and something incredible about it is how the anime creates a deep connection with its audience, driving watchers to reflect on global problems and even personal experiences.

One of the most important topics of the series is the idea of overcoming limits, especially those self-imposed. In Japan, the social pressure is overwhelming, but it is also in the lives of so many young people worldwide who try not to be conformists, like it is for Mari Tamaki, who feels like her life has no purpose. However, scenes like when Mari joins Shirase in the Antarctic journey showcase how small steps and courage could change lives.

Another topic is resilience and how to manage the loss of a loved one. Shirase's desire to visit Antarctica and the scene when she finds her mother's laptop showcase these are hard topics full of incredible emotional connection, and this could resonate with most of its audience globally.

I identified with these girls' desire to chase or achieve something more significant than what they had or what people thought they could accomplish. Sometimes, in life, we have the opportunity to achieve things we really want, but some sacrifices could scare us. We need to take a deep breath, analyze our capabilities, trust ourselves, and get the courage to face some ups and downs to get what we dreamed of.

After watching the entire series, I noticed that A Place Further Than the Universe also highlights the true value of friendship, which reminded me how important and essential human connections are when facing a challenge.

[mireuvn]

A place beyond the universe

The anime I watched was called “A Place Beyond the Universe. It was a story about a group of highschool girls going to Antarctica. This viewing addressed many issues in Japan. For instance, when the expedition is sailing through the sea before they land, one of the crew members explains that they can only land in specific regions of Antarctica due to WW2.

Japan lost during WW2 and were forced to agree to the allies demands about many things like reparations and in this example who owns which regions of the Antarctic. This issue scales up globally due to the fact that the current biggest powers were brought up by the ending of WW2. The same nations that won that war now have the same great power over other countries and have a bigger sway in places like NATO.

 I felt connected to the viewing through the interpersonal side. Seeing the characters grow and change due to their relationships to each other was heartwarming. Many of the characters have had trouble making friends and that was relatable to me as I’ve had the same struggles as a kid.

 There were some connections to the reading due to the difficulties the expedition faced getting it off the ground. The expedition was having a hard time raising the money and finding the manpower to make the journey happen. This relates to the reading as capitalism makes them unable to fund it themselves and often leaves people unable to take vacations to do what they’re doing or makes them too tired to want to volunteer.

[mireuvn]

Hello World

Hello World