CHAT: anime & manga (was Re: conlang greetings? (was Re: Letme introduce myself)

Tristan Alexander McLeay wrote:
>
> On Tue, 4 Dec 2001, J Y S Czhang wrote:
>
> > In a message dated 04.12.2001 01:48:57 PM, cowan@MERCURY.CCIL.ORG writes:
> >
> > >Irina Rempt scripsit:
> > >
> > >> I'm beginning to feel that I'm the only person on the list - no, the
> > >> only person in the *world* - who doesn't like manga and anime. What's
> > >> wrong with me?
> > >
> > >Not a thing.  I don't care for it either.  Violent, sexist, and
> > >artistically crude.
> > >
> >
> >     ::nods head in agreement:: I agree to a degree. There is the occasional
> > good piece here & there (_Akira_ is one that pops into me head right away &
> > another is _Ghosts in the Machine_... but then again I prefer European sci-fi
> > comix slightly better & I have seen some really intriguin' Russian sci-fi
> > comix but have no clue what the heck they are about...)
> >     oh, & I reaaally loved _Final Fantasy_ (& that was not terribly sexist or
> > artistically crude at all...& the mild violence served the story-line & the
> > storyline had a neat interpretation of the Gaia Theory).
>
> Hmm? Story line in _Final Fantasy_? I can't remember such a thing...
> However, I loved the graphics, all except the hair. The hair was _so_
> unnatural... But no, I don't like anime and manga. Although I sometimes
> feel the same (and with `Buffy the Vampire Slayer', too)...
>
You all are certainly entitled to your own tastes, and I'm not about
tell anyone that they have to read or watch any particular thing. But if
manga and anime, the entire range of comics and animation of a whole
country, are going to be qualified as "violent, sexist and artistically
crude", then I have to speak up. Is it appropriate to paint all American
comics or animation with such a label? All European works?

I haven't actually seen "Akira" or the "Final Fantasy" movie. I enjoyed
the "Ghost in the Shell" movie (what I suspect is referred to above),
and liked the original manga even more so. I've found science fiction,
fantasy, historical, romance, comedy and drama all within anime and
manga. Some of it exhibits violence. I admit to shying away from the
most reputedly violent stories, as I can't stomach such very well. Some
of it exhibits sexist attitudes, yet at the same time I see an
incredible variety of egalitarian attitudes and strong female
characters. "Artistically crude"? Some is. Yet being an artist myself,
I've found much sophisticated and rich artwork, and an astonishing
variety of styles all co-existing within the rather recognizable
dominant Japanese styling.

And like any artistic output from an entire country, there's going to be
some really poor material. I've seen some of it. Things that thankfully
I rented or borrowed because I certainly would never purchase them. But
this is true of any country's works. But I've seen enough which I
consider fine work that I'm always interested to see what new material
is coming out of Japan.

Just in case my ranting has induced any further curiosity, some stories
I can recommend that I feel do *not* exhibit the negative
characteristics above include:
"Shoujo Kakumei Utena"/"Revolutionary Girl Utena"
"Hana Yori Dango"
"Irresponsible Captain Tyler"
"Maison Ikkoku"
"Aa! Megami-sama"/"Oh! My Goddess"

Back to lurking...

Laurie
milo@winternet.com
http://www.winternet.com/~milo

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