simjay-engberg-jpt1311-blog

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Hello! I instantly saw your gif and starting laughing. This was perfect. But anyways. I strongly agree with your point that this anime does not show any of the real horrific outcomes of war. I know it is supposed to be funny and all but personally it feels weird to me this portrayal of war through a comical lens. It can be very offensive to nations just brushing over the outcomes of this war. Your blog was very enjoyable and I like how you often put your real opinion in. It feels more like I am having a conversation with you instead of reading a summary. Great Job!

Blog Post - Hetalia ᯓᡣ𐭩‧₊˚ ⊹

GIRL WHAT THE HELL WAS THIS SHOW!!! ITS SO GOOFY! I always forget that CountryHumans: The Anime exists, but when I do remember it, I always wish I could forget it again. Hetalia is pretty silly, but it gets kinda weird when you think about it for more than five minutes. I can recognize that it succeeds as a massive parody to make fun of real-world powerhouses and how much they don't attribute to the world besides violence. But, the show turns whole-ass countries into buff or twink men and lowkey encourages their fans to ship them with one another. No wonder the Hetalia fandom turned out to be so crazy.

However, one choice I didn't really like was when the creators cutie-fied the events of World War 2 from the perspective of the Tripartite Pact. I think it's a bit insensitive, especially for how infamously evil German and Japanese forces were during that time. I think if the show wanted to create shenanigans between personified countries in the present time that would be fine. But having a tiny stranded beach episode with Germany, Japan, and Italy while both sides of the war tortured and murdered thousands in real life during fights, concentration camps and sieges is just. Again, kinda weird. I don't wanna know that Germany is good at tying shoelaces right now!!! But maybe the show just wasn't my cup of tea, I could see how others can get behind it.

If I put to the side that all the characters were countries, Hetalia was a lot more enjoyable. But I think it was an odd choice to have this for our last anime in the class. This anime could've paired so well with Genshiken as a real-life example of toxic fandoms within anime communities. Both shows deal with the balance of good gay representation and dangerous representation from BL, but adding the representation of countries on top of that could've been super interesting to compare! But I understand why it was paired with Kobayashi's Sensōron instead.

But anyways, this is my last blog of the class! Yay!!! Pasta!!!

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Hetalia: Axis Powers

I have heard about the anime Hetalia: Axis Powers but this was my first time watching it. I feel like the audience analyzes it in multiple ways. Personally, I thought it was quite funny and enjoyable but can definitely see where some people may get offended. Hetalia: Axis Powers addresses global concerns through satire the representation of countries as individual people. This specific portrayal of the characters allows for an explanation of historical events through a humorous style.  

The anime Hetalia: Axis Powers mainly focuses on before and during World War 2 from the assigned episodes. It is very clear the amount of stereotypes that are present within this anime. Every country is reduced down to one person and this is obviously unrealistic and ignores the diversity of a country's citizens. The stereotypes that are shown in Hetalia: Axis Powers reinforce a very simplistic perception of countries that can be viewed as trivializing past history. The show does not put any emphasis on the actual outcomes and suffering that has been caused by these events. I think it can be argued that this show is offering an anti-stereotype message because of how outrageous these individuals are represented to the audience. Within the real world many cultures and countries face significant sterotypes and this anime can be viewed as contributing to xenophobia. Cultural sensitivity and awareness are very important within the world and need to be taken seriously.  

In my opinion Hetalia: Axis Powers offers both positives and negatives. This anime can serve as a fun way to learn history through the diplomatic relations shown. Additionally, Hetalia occasionally brings up social and economic issues of nations. For example, social norms and trade connections are emphasized throughout the series. Through the comical portrayal of serious events, I also believe this anime can be thought provoking regarding peace and relations between countries. When people watch this anime, it is very crucial to understand the strict stereotypes put on countries and how they are inaccurate/unrealistic.  

[simjay-engberg-jpt1311-blog]

I also was thinking to myself why I have not watched this film. I believe this film was quite amazing and loved the unique animation. I also agree with this movie being a commentary of gender performance. Another specific scene that supports this is when the main male protagonist (it was the Mitsuha in the body) was sitting with the other males eating lunch and used more of a feminine wording to refer to himself. His friends pointed this out and were confused by this. It was very unique that you brought up this moving connecting everything by time. I believe that many things within my own life have been connected and based purely off timing. Have a good one!

Blog Post - Your Name ᯓᡣ𐭩‧₊˚ ⊹

The movie Your Name is so recognizable within anime communities and is vastly known for its beautiful animation and endearing story. So why the hell have I not watched it until this class??? I knew for years this film would be right up my alley, and I loved watching similar movies like Suzume, Belle, and Weathering with You in the past. I even know the famous end-credit scene where Mitsuha and Taki reunite on the staircase years later. So I think I'm just insane or something, I don't know lol.

The movie was super cute, especially with its time-traveling Freaky Friday-like plot. I found the main characters endearing, with their struggles and embarrassment to live as the opposite sex. I liked how eventually, the two of them began to enjoy each other's lives and even helped save it. And I always enjoy a story that mentions the concept of the "red thread," or "Musubi" in the movie. The idea is that everything in the world is connected by time and place. Especially your soulmates, platonically or romantically, are all tied to your body by an unseeable thread until you find them is super fascinating to me. It felt similar to the anime, Kamisama Kiss, where the human girl Nanami and the fox spirit Tomoe were bound to fall in love again across every lifetime.

I will add that this movie surprisingly was an in-depth commentary on gender performance. A scene that stood out to me was when Taki, in Mitsuha's body, kicked a desk to stop the school bullies from talking behind her back. Everything that normal Mitsuha has done, being nice to them, staying quiet, and not bringing anything up, is stereotypically considered a "feminine" reaction to bullying. Your Name tells us that being feminine isn't the solution, and to stop someone from bullying you, the victim has to reject them in a "masculine" way (i.e. kicking your desk or getting into a fight). Of course, this isn't 100% true in reality, but the concept behind it is seen in the real world. Women have been taught for generations to bottle up their problems and not cause a scene so they aren't a nuisance, so some close-minded people believe only being a man or being masculine will get things done.

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Your Name and Religion

Wow that anime was actually so entertaining and amazing. Your Name had absolutely beautiful animation, a perfect soundtrack, and a wholesome love story. I usually do not watch this type of anime because I typically prefer Shonen anime, but I am so glad we had this film assigned. This film explores many issues that a prevalent globally such as religion, natural disasters, and the disconnect between rural and urban areas.  

Your Name brings specific attention to religion. From the very start within the life of the female protagonist there are many scenes that highlight traditions and spirituality within their religion. This can be viewed as an emphasis on the importance of reserving and keeping religious practices thriving. The practices showcased within this anime are very old but through the grandma’s efforts, the traditions will live on and hopefully be passed down in the future. Globally, many communities often lose sacred traditions and fail to maintain religious traditions because of advancements in technology and quick social change.  

I also believe that an overlooked theme of this animation is the destruction of natural disasters. A key plot point within the anime Your Name is a significantly damaging comet strike that completely wipes out a small rural town. Within the real world this anime shines a light on possible vulnerabilities within rural communities and that these rural areas may face great danger from natural disasters. It has been seen repeatedly globally, communities being wiped out from the earth because of weather.  

Another key idea that is shown through Your Name is the disconnect between rural and urban life. Both the female and male protagonists have no idea how their opposite living styles are. There are many important things to be learned between these communities such as cultural exchanges and ways of life. Mitusha wants to escape to the city and explore what life has to offer in Tokyo. Rural areas can possibly face economic disadvantages like a lack of jobs and opportunities. On the other hand, urban areas have more economic activity and opportunities to possibly get a job. This film represents that through the job of the male protagonist. Overall, this anime creates a more conservative approach highlighting rural areas and maintaining religious practices.  

[simjay-engberg-jpt1311-blog]

Hello Pari! I also was not the biggest fan of Xenoblade Chronicles 2. These cut scenes were very confusing when we had to skip around and did not grab my attention. I did not digest a lot of information from this. Anyways, I also have seen the devastating effects that the environment has faced within the past decades. There needs to be more information and awareness towards this subject. I also made the connection that Xenoblade Chronicles 2 connects humans and nature with each other. As seen in this anime video game through technology there can be a restoration of nature and promotion of biodiversity within nature artificially. This has some grounding in the real world regarding possible solutions of climate change and a degrading environment. Great job!

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Blog Post

I appreciate how this deviated from what we have been writing about in our past blogs, but I’m still not a fan of it. It does offer an immersive experience that tackles important environmental issues, but it just didn’t engage me or catch my attention much. This game presents a narrative that resonates with both Japanese cultural concerns and global environmental ones. Set in a world where Earth has been destroyed, it reflects the vulnerability of natural disasters and the chaos that technological advancements bring. It aims for a balance between that and environmental preservation. The narrative connects to climate change and degradation which incites players to consider their own actions on the planet they live, making this both a global and native concern. Furthermore, it elicits that degradation drives human ingenuity for environmental restoration.

Personally, the themes of this game related to my own experiences of being raised in a world where technological progression has outstripped and overshadowed environmental considerations constantly. It further sheds light and is a reminder to prioritize ecological importance and restoration, furthering reducing out environmental footprint and helping better preserve and restore our planet. Through witnessing the impacts of climate change first hand, I advocate for more sustainable practices and, as mentioned in my previous blog post, that is mainly done through participating in annual walk-a-thons and even spreading awareness locally in campus. This further connects to the readings by navigating human relationships with natural ones and the need to recognize both aspects as an integral part of a system. They are not separate entities, but, instead, need each other to facilitate restorative acts and encourage individuals to preserve the planet for future generations to come. It highlights how human and ecological restoration must go hand in hand and that one thing cannot happen without the other supporting it. This is a little different than the Nausicaa Blog Post since that one relied on the planet to restore itself overtime, but this one relies more so on humans and the plant collectively.

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Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was an interesting video game regarding the cut scenes. I personally got very confused during the majority of the time watching these scenes and did not enjoy it as much as the traditional anime that is usually assigned. Although Xenoblade Chronicles 2 does offer many issues that are relevant globally, I kept getting sidetracked and could not entirely focus.  

Within the beginning of the assigned scenes the audience is introduced to the idea of degrading titans. Titans each have special ecosystems on their backs that represent the climate in the video game. As the titans degrade and die off the threat of extinction to humanity arises. The main characters are trying to make it to Elysium to live the perfect life within a thriving environment. The titan population decreasing leads to conflict regarding the availability of resources. This can be seen as parallelism within our real world that the environment is degrading. Within recent decades there has been an increase in environmental concerns and an overuse of natural resources. The cut scenes offer as a reflection on the relationship between humanity and nature promoting for conservation of the environment.  

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 also brings up the possibility of human made disasters that can create irreversible damage. The Architect completely destroyed the environment and civilization through a failed experiment. Nature did not exist anymore and there was absolutely no diversity. The Architect had to create a world that would later prove to recreate nature. This offers as a view that nature was created artificially. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 takes on the idea that humans and nature need to work together to create restoration. This is an opposite approach to the most recent anime assigned Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Within the real world there are different opinions on how to preserve the environment, but regardless nature is lethal to surviving and needs to be protected.  

[simjay-engberg-jpt1311-blog]

Hello Robian! I also really enjoyed this film. It was honestly very inspiring and eye opening in my experience. The theory you proposed was very interesting and a very good interpretation. Elden Ring is an awesome name. Anyways, the 2 themes you promoted were also the themes I talked about in my blog post. The representation of weapons of mass destruction (Giant Warriors) in this film portray many attitudes that are presented within the real world. These weapons can create horrible effects and even a possibility of extinction. Your last sentence was very thought provoking. The world needs to promote peace while supporting the natural growth of the earth. Have a good one!

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

I actually think this is my new favorite studio ghibli film. Something about it was extremely beautiful and touching. Was I just under a rock, I don't know how I haven't heard of this film before. Also before this analysis begins, I just wanna put out there a theory that the design of Malenia from Elden Ring may be partially inspired by Kushana. Could be a coincidence but that's why it's just a theory.

Two major themes of the film are Anti-war and connection with nature. I'll start with Anti-war. The films depicts a world one thousand years after a nuclear war. The soil and water is filled with radiation/poison and is fetal to humans. The forest keeps spreading is seen as a threat to mankind, but in reality it's devitalizing the world with new soil through the ashes of the trees. This film was created not too long after the cold-war in which many worried about the possibility of a complete nuclear war. If that war was to happen it would have damaged the earth, leaving lasting effects for thousands of years. If a nuclear war on the scale of a World War happened, it could very well be the end of humanity or at least set us back many years as depicted in the film.

Theres this famous quote from Albert Einstein that I can't help but think of: "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones". Nausicaa realizes that the hate and war needs to stop. Even she was blinded by rage from the murder of her father and retaliated by killing people. Yet, she learned to put aside her feelings for the good of the people and from that time on, she never killed another soul.

Nausicca has a special connection with nature. From a young age she's depicted protecting a baby Ohmu. She gets along with every animal she meets and most importantly she doesn't see the forest as something to be feared. In the end, nature quite literally brings her back to life symbolizing a new beginning where the world is connected with nature once again. The nature of the forest was the world healing itself after the nuclear war and the Ohmu shared the feelings of the Earth. The film criticizes current society's distance from nature. Current society does not respect nature but rather uses it for it's own benefit. The pathway to peace is a world where we embrace the Earth rather than fight unnecessary wars that end up harming it.

[simjay-engberg-jpt1311-blog]

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and Environmental Concerns

This was one of my favorite anime films that was assigned in this class. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind shined a light on very powerful issues that have significant global relevance. The film is primarily about the destruction of the environment paired with war between tribes (Tolmekian and Pejite). The valley of wind is another tribe that promotes peace and is protected from toxic spores by the flow of wind. 

In my opinion the most important takeaway from this movie is about environmental conservation. This film is in a world where a 1000-year-old war caused great environmental damage. The land is filled with toxic wastelands and the jungle within the film is covered in insects and plants that are of great concern to humans. These humans have to constantly wear masks when they are near the jungle to protect themselves from this jungle. The portrayal of this environment in Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind offers as a warning regarding possible environmental devastation in the future that is caused by industrialization and ultimately war through weapons of mass destruction. The film also offers a solution to this degrading environment. At the end of the movie the insects realize that the young princess Nausicaä sacrifices herself to save one of their kind. Nausicaa is a courageous and powerful leader within the movie that risks her life to make a change. The Ohmu ,which are the creatures around her, realize her intentions and heal her from her injuries. This solution can be taken into consideration globally as an idea that countries need to work alongside nature and let nature thrive. Natural has the ability to heal itself as seen in the movie with the correct resources.  

Another theme of this movie is the effects of war using weapons of mass destruction. Such powerful weapons can cause irreversible damage to many lifeforms including the environment. The movie pushes for peace between tribes and an understanding within the environment. Communication and collective efforts can create avoided conflict and save countless lives of the population. Within the real world there has been an increase in the number of weapons of mass destruction created such as nuclear weapons that pose as a big threat to the world as a whole. The film creates advocacy against such powerful weapons because of the possible effects that can arise.  

[simjay-engberg-jpt1311-blog]

Hello Abhiram! Similarly to you this was also my first time watching any sort of neon genesis evangelion anime. The movie in particular was also very confusing for me. I honestly had no clue what was going on during a lot of the time but took away the main theme of masculinity. I also brought up the scene were Shinji was trying to kill Asuka. She rejects his homogenic masculinity and he finally breaks. Shinji completely shuts down and is swallowed by violence. Shinji is so angry that society will not accept him for who he is and ultimately wants society to be erased. This was a great blog post have a good one!

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.

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Masculinity in The End of Evangelion.

I do not even know where to begin. The anime film End of Evangelion was indescribable. I was so confused by the majority of this movie and did not even really have a ton of take aways from it. There were also scenes in this movie that were absolutely disgusting and very hard to watch. Anyways this anime film and the tv series shined a bright light on masculinity. 

Shinji in this movie is a complete mess. Shinji is not acting himself and has a total identity crisis at some points. This character is trying to find meaning and answer questions but always seems to fall short. Shinji does not know what to do with himself and struggles to find a purpose to live. A very disturbing scene was shown towards the beginning of the movie that involved Shinji and Asuka in a hospital room. We all know the scene I am referring to, so I am not going to go into detail. Anyways this is Shinji’s attempt to conform to hegemonic masculinity referring to the reading assigned earlier in the module. Shinji views himself as disgusting after this act and ultimately continues to carry on his queer masculine traits. At this point Shinji seems lifeless and does not care what happens to him. He completely shuts down and is trying to hide from the world.  

Another scene I wanted to reflect on was when Shinji was completely over Asuka and tried to aggressively murder her. This happens in the middle of the movie and the end of the movie and similarly represents the same thing. When it happens in the middle of the movie this is the boiling point for Shinji. Shinji completely loses it after this action and wants to die. He is over society not accepting his queer masculinity and ultimately decides to destroy society along with himself. Also, the last scene shows that Shinji never fully conformed to hegemonic masculinity. Asuka, which represents societies view on Shinji says that he is disgusting. This can serve as the global discussion of certain societies not accepting different gender identities and masculinities.  

[simjay-engberg-jpt1311-blog]

Hello Abhiram! I also agree with the skipping around episodes was tough to understand. I was very lost in episode 24 and had no clue what has going on at some points during this anime. I also bring up how both Kawaru and Asuka could be used to be compared to Shinji. Asuka is the complete opposite and is confident but still is performing because of past trauma she has experienced. Kawaru is similar to Shinji and creates a shared bond with him. I really appreciate how you related this within your own life. I have also tried to act tough in front of my friends or whatever the situation and have completely failed. Great response have a good day!

Evangelion Part 2 and Masculinity

Continuing my first viewing of Evangelion was rough. I enjoyed the introduction of Asuka and the fight against the shadow angel but the conflict with Kawaru and the last episode threw me for a loop. It is very confusing to skip the episodes, but it was still enjoyable nonetheless. However, for this blog, I want to continue talking about masculinity in Evangelion.

We see the theme of the woman in Evangelion being given typical Hegemonic masculine traits with Asuka. She is very headstrong and confident and loves to engage in violent acts with the Eva. These traits fit the typical male mecha anime protagonist but are instead given to Asuka a female side character. Her introduction makes the lack of masculine traits that Shinji shows even more apparent and makes him even more out of place with another character to comment on his lack of masculinity.

In the next episode assigned, we see that Shinji starts to resolve to act more masculine in his life. When he is sent off to fight the shadow angel he tries to take charge and show the other characters how it's done, even stating that fighting is man's job. Through these actions, Shinji aims to switch the narrative and make him more in line with hegemonic masculinity, but in a cruel twist of fate, his tactic fails. The show angel is immune to his brute force approach and he is sucked in. He then is forced to take a fetal position and pray for the women to come and save him which shows that he cannot his queer masculinity. He is eventually saved by the eva showing he cannot do anything himself.

Finally, Kawaru is an enigma in the story. He is a character that has those same queer masculine traits Shinji has, but he is not isolated for them like Shinji is. This makes him want to be closer to Kawaru, but it turns it that the reason he was able to act the way he did was because he was not human at all and had no need to feel any isolation like humans feel. This hurts Shinji and shows that queer masculine people cannot really find acceptance in a male masculine world.

In my life, I can relate to Shinji trying to act more masculine and failing. I can recall many times in my life when I tried to act tough only to fall flat on my face and show that I am not that guy which is similar to what Shinji was trying to do and what happened to him apart from the alien womb part.

Overall, Evangelion represents the struggles of a queer masculine man in a hegemonic masculine world. It represents these themes through Shinji's struggles and his inner conflicts. It is a series I would recommend to watch fully through.

[simjay-engberg-jpt1311-blog]

Neon Genesis Evangelion Part 2. Asuka and Kaworu.

I really enjoyed Neon Genesis Evangelion. This anime had really cool animation, fight scenes, and futuristic elements. The second part of Neon Genesis Evangelion introduced 2 pivotal characters Asuka and Kaworu which offered as a comparison to Shinji. 

To start off with in episode 8 the audience is introduced to Asuka which is a female that is the complete opposite of Shinji. Asuka is seen as a confident and fiercely independent individual that pilots 02. These traits can be connected back to the reading assigned prior to watching Neon Genesis Evangelion. Asuka caries out Hegemonic Masculinity and often criticizes Shinji for his Queer Masculinity traits that he carries out. I want to also mention that Asuka deep down is insecure and acts in such a strong way to mask the trauma she had faced when she was a child. Asuka’s mother committed suicide due to a mental breakdown and Asuka at a young age saw her mother dead.  

Another important character introduced in Neon Genesis Evangelion is Kaworu. Kawuro is quite similar to Shinji, and I personally feel like he is the only person that understands Shinji. Kawuro comforts Shinji and is the only real friend he has had within the series. Kawuro has similar characteristics to Shinji regarding queer masculinity and offers as support towards Shinji. When Shinji finds out Kawuro is an angel he absolutely freaks out and feels betrayed. Kawuro in Shinji’s mind was the only person that ever accepted him as who he was. Shinji ultimately kills Kawuro but deep down is saddened that he is forced to do this.  

The introduction of these two characters shines a light on the queer masculinity that Shinji portrays. In the last episode Shinji finally breaks through within his mind and understands that not everybody instantly hates him because of how he carries himself. Shinji realizes he has a place in this world and can be himself around others. I am still on the edge about whether I agree with this scene or not. I am not sure if Shinji will actually be accepted by the society in Neon Genesis Evangelion because in the past they have treated him so poorly.  

Lastly, I wanted to refer quickly to the advanced technology within this series. Similar to Mobile Suit Gundam I feel like this anime shows the risks of advancements in technology within society and warns the audience about potential dangers that may arise.  

[simjay-engberg-jpt1311-blog]

Hello Robian! Your analysis of Shinji is absolutely spot on. I mentioned that Shinji is literally only a kid that is 14 years old. Shinji has a world of pressure being placed on him and is expected to perform no matter the cost. If Shinji does not conform with the societal norms placed upon him he is looked at horribly and rejected by society. Shinji only wants to have a relationship with his Dad and it seems like his Dad only views him as a test subject for his Robot. Your recognition of Shinji taking on more feminine roles is very accurate. Shinji is more of a kind hearted and supporting individual who is hurt easily. Great response to Neon Genesis Evangelion have a good one!

Neon Genesis Evangelion Part 1

I'm writing this after watching the entirety of Evangelion because I didn't wanna ruin it by watching specific episodes. I'm also writing this early so I'm just going to make an educated guess about what part 1 covers.

Okay, so I'm going to mainly talk about Shinji because we don't really dive deep into the other characters until what I assume will be covered in part 2. Shinji is very different from your average anime protagonist. Most anime protagonists are seemingly always good looking and brave. They try to appeal to the watchers' desires. Shinji on the other hand is just a frail and scared young boy who just wants to be loved by his dad. Personally, I love characters like this. They tend to feel more realistic. If you almost died like Shinji did, and had to endure the pain simulated from the Eva, you'd probably be scared shitless too just like Shinji.

Also by starting off as weak, it allows more character development. But, to be honest, Shinji doesn't really have much character development (until literally the last 2 eps). Shinji realizes that he pilots the Eva to please his dad (hopefully this was part of part1 I don't remember). He even returns to his Eva after leaving, but he's still scared. Even though I enjoy character development, I think in certain situations, a lack of it can be just as telling. He's not suddenly just going to become brave and lose his fear of fighting in the Eva, and by this lack of development, it really highlights just how much he desires his dad's admiration.

Now, I also want to talk about how Shinji takes on more feminine than masculine gender roles. Shinji is depicted as kind and caring. He always apologizes and avoids any conflict. He cooks and cleans the apartment, while the women are depicted as slobs. He's scared to pilot his Eva, while the two women Rei and Asuka are fine with it. Honestly, I'm trying to think of a different anime that's male protagonist is like Shinji, and I can't (although I'm sure there's a few). It just tells you how unique of a character Shinji is. Going back to the last module, Shinji really challenges what we view as gender roles. A man doesn't need to always be tough and brave, he can be weak and scared too.

[simjay-engberg-jpt1311-blog]

Neon Genesis Evangelion and Queer Masculinity

The anime Neon Genesis Evangelion is an older giant robot anime and at first impression reminded of the former anime Mobile Suit Gundam that was assigned earlier in the course. Neon Genesis Evangelion connected to the readings assigned through the main character Shinji's presentation of queer masculinity.  

Shinji's nervousness, sensitivity, and portrayal of being timid challenges the traditional views of masculinity that present more of a dominant and violent expression. In my opinion Shinji’s sensitivity is completely justified. The kid is 14 years old and is expected to basically save the world without any question. Shinji has to risk his own life and if he does not want to be the pilot of the robot he is looked at as basically trash. In a specific scene, the society within Neon Genesis Evangelion rejected him when he refused to operate the robot and did not care for him anymore. This society only accepts Hegemonic masculinity and looks down on Shinji’s behavior. I personally am not sure if I would even fully consider Shinji’s behavior as queer masculinity because of the young age and amount of pressure that is put on him. Shinji does have some traits of queer masculinity but at the same time he is just a kid. Connecting to the real world, Shinji’s lack of traditional masculinity (hegemonic) reflects a new and more diverse comprehension of gender and an individual's identity. This addresses conversations within the real world about gender fluidity and overall acceptance for individuals within society.  

Neon Genesis Evangelion also explores many other themes such as pressure placed on the youth. The sheer amount of pressure placed on Shinji can create a reflection of real-world pressures that are placed on individuals in Japan and the United States. The struggle of the main character shows isolation and powerful societal expectations being put on this individual. Shinji seems to question his own self-worth and looks at himself as being a weak minded individual. Within my own life at times, I have a lot of pressure to conform to societal norms and be the best person possible. 

[simjay-engberg-jpt1311-blog]

Hello Robian! I think your comment of the anime being more about cross dressing than discrimination of transgender people was very thought provoking. Looking a back at this comment I would have to agree with you. A large portion of the anime does focus on cross dressing and arguably more than transgender individuals. I think your point of women having more fashion and dressing like a man can be seen as fashion was also very valid and a smart interpretation. I also personally love the color pink as a guy and agree that society has labeled so many different things to a specific gender. Have a good one!

Wandering Son

Honestly, at first I thought this anime was a comment on discrimination against transgender people. However, by the end of the show, I think the anime was more of a comment on cross-dressing. Either way, the discrimination portrayed could easily be applied to either one because most people can't differentiate between the two. Most people, if they saw a bio male in a dress, would automatically jump to the conclusion that the person was transgender.

I thought it was interesting how the anime portrayed the contrast between male and female cross-dressers. Women can pretty much easily get away with dressing as a man, but if a dude were to wear a skirt (unless you're about to whip out the bagpipes), people would judge him. My personal thoughts on the cause of this is that women tend to be more fashionable in general, so a woman dressing as a man could just be seen as fashion.

The anime makes a pretty clear statement that society frowns upon men to women cross-dressing. What I think is interesting is how we've applied gender labels to so many things. Even the color pink is seen as girly. Personally, as a dude, I love the color pink. Society, from a young age, conditions us to like certain things. Boys are given toys different from girls, they're dressed in different clothing, etc. There's nothing biologically that implies a guy can't like wearing a skirt. It's all psychological conditioning.

I wonder if transgender people feel that they were born into the wrong body because their interests happened to align with the opposite gender's. gender and sex are fundamentally different after all. One is based on psychological aspects while the other is based on biological aspects. In my opinion, theres actually nothing psychologically wrong with transgender people at all, rather, it's society assigning labels that's the problem.

Society is wrong for discriminating these people just because they don't fall under it's standards. Just let people like what they like. If it isn't hurting anyone, then what business do you have with them. To all my homies out there, if you wanna go dress up as a woman, go do it. To all the ladies out there, if you wanna dress up as dude, go do it. Who cares what society thinks, cause it's all BS anyways.

p.s. if you disagree or feel strongly about any of the things I said just know I don't read any of yalls reposts, but feel free to criticize🙏

[simjay-engberg-jpt1311-blog]

Wandering Son

The anime Wandering Son is an interesting and inspiring anime. Watching this anime was a new experience for me because I have never watched any anime in sub before. For this reason, in my experience of watching Wandering Son it was a bit hard to keep up with at times because I was so focused on reading the subtitles and it was quite difficult for me to understand exactly what was going on. Anyways, this anime presented many issues that a prevalent globally within society as a whole.  

Wandering Son brings awareness to the right of transgender individuals and the visibility of these people. The anime shines a bright light on the experiences of transgenders. Viewing these experiences was a very new thing for me and provided me with a valuable amount of knowledge. These common experiences are crucial for understanding and increasing visibility of transgender individuals. These personal journeys and struggles provided to the audience contributes to a global recognition of transgender rights. Nitori is assigned male at birth but later from what I have viewed identifies as a female. Nitori has a very challenging time when identifying and wearing female clothing. She is laughed at and bullied for this action which is completely unacceptable. This experience of Nitori truly highlights the issue of a lack of transgender rights and overall respect.  

This anime also portrays gender fluidity and individuals who are non-binary. This can be seen as a representation of a global shift within some areas that are starting to recognize a spectrum of genders identities beyond traditional ideals. This anime challenges traditional norms and supports a comprehensive understanding of gender. This relates to the modern gender theory that examines gender as a spectrum rather than unchanging. Gender identity and expression are social constructs that are subject to change. Yoshino Takatsuki changes gender depending on social settings and from my understanding this illustrates the fluidity of gender.  

Overall, a lot of this knowledge is new concepts to me and this anime along with the module has taught me a lot of rich and respected knowledge. 

[simjay-engberg-jpt1311-blog]

Hello Robian! I also described the both as being a horrible person overall. The boss gets enjoyment for exploiting his workers. I also mentioned that the boss is a metaphor for consumerism because he is a pig. When you mention that the "work hierarchy is preventing people from being friends" this was a very thought provoking statement. I forgot to mention this but reading back on it, this comment made perfect sense. Retsuko was scared of rejection and these higher ups forming a negative view on her which prevented her from interacting with them. I also relate to Retsuko when it is viewed that she has a heavy work load creating a lot of stress. Great analysis Robian!

Aggretsuko

Aggretsuko is an anime focused on transitioning into adulthood and especially work life. From the get-go Retsuko is faced with a really shitty boss. He makes her clean his desk, bring him tea, and do a ton of extra work. She hates him, but puts up with it because of the hierarchy within the workplace. To her it's better to just deal with it rather than anger him more. To me, this is an obvious comment on the horrible work culture in Japan. Overtime is expected and seniority is king.

Retsuko is even scared to become friends with other women in the office because they are her seniors. This work hierarchy is even preventing people from being friends. Luckily, Retsuko and the other women become friends anyways. One of the women even report Retsuko's boss to the CEO which, although short lived, made his boss become nicer. After all, in the hierarchy, the CEO is typically king.

The boss also represents present sexism in the workplace. He sees most women as incompetent and only good for petty work. He also believes women are less valuable employees because as soon as they get married they will leave (tbf that was Retsuko's plan but still isn't right). This is a very real problem in real life as well. When hiring, employers are worried about women leaving after marriage or spending less time on work due to children.

Retsuko struggles with the idea of marriage. She's been working for awhile, but she partly still sees herself as a kid. She feels that she'll lose a part of herself if she gets married. Retsuko's just going through a natural transitional period of becoming an adult. It's weird to think that we graduate school and so soon we are just expected to get married and have children. Retsuko even has the stereotypical mother who's always pushing her to get married.

As a college student, Aggretsuko tackles some themes that I've yet to deal with, but know are coming. Although Aggretsuko is meant to be comedic, it has a touch of reality that's important to recognize and learn from.