How Martians Think of Us. Or Is It Jovians?
It’s a common notion in science fiction that if we ever stumble upon extraterrestrials, they would possess far superior technological prowess and be able to do things humans cannot. When in reality this is probably not likely to be the case (odds are we’ll just find some bacteria first or something like that, if/when it happens), it never stopped anyone.
That is the feeling reading this article invoked in me. The analysis is sound and well-grounded, I really can’t fault it besides just, well, it’s out of touch with what’s really happening.
It feels like some guy is just taking some samples of this “anime” and analyze it as if it’s for a science class. Or literary analysis class. What have you. There’s a blatant disregard for context, and you can see it on several levels. Let’s take the Akito Tenkawa point for example–sure, the analysis is sound for how he relates to Gai, and it is spot on in terms of the mocking of childhood ideals &c. But why not take the next major step and talk about the Jovians? (I mean, why write this article when you can just watch the series? It practically says the entire thing, and much more. Considering most 2-cour TV anime takes about 2 years from planning to finishing its broadcast run, what does that say about the post-Evangelion scene? I’d say “it has been brewing for quite some time.”)
But before I get distracted by my own infatuation with Nadesico, I quote, “In[] Nadesico[] the appeal of those heroic ideals now lies in their value as nostalgia rather than as something relevant to modern society”– LOL WRONG. Actually the SCARY thing is exactly how these nostalgic but mocked values are still ever relevant, ever-fed to our children as easy answers to life’s tough questions. (Dennou Coil, I’m looking at you.) That is the whole “dark side” to Jiro Yamada and what’s really the whole point implicated by the opposing views of Gekigangar. But hey, his point about 3G or whatever is still good.
Anyways, you should read the post. (And the blog in general.) It’s a good read, and not just because it’s well-written. While the meaning of what it is a hero is stretched microns thin with it, there might be something you find worth taking home. When I said there are more than a few out-of-context points, I really mean it and I don’t think I can even pick them all out. What I have here is just the beginning. But I have faith that YOU can finish it. And that’s what it matters in this post-”G3 otaku” world. Maybe a blank of threeseven years is measured by the distance traveled by the speed of light and not by just what some scholars have to say about culture. When I was just a freshman in undergrad, one of my profs said that when it’s starting to be taught in colleges, any cultural movement can be fairly certain to be considered dead. I’m inclined to agree; and the autopsy, even a warm, lively incision as such, smells of staleness of what passed away.
The Theme of Memories is the Theme of Me
I’m not sure how many people out there recall the first few fansub renditions of episode 18 of Nadesico, but I thought that was always a touching way to translate something to get across the spirit of the language behind the title.
I’m not sure how many people out there enjoyed Kanon, either through the game, the fan stuff (radio shows and what not), or the Toei anime. I thought the new Kanon TV show is a self-fulfilling experience to re-experience your first time through Kanon, if you’re one of those people.
I’m not sure how many people out there even watched Simoun. I thought that was the saddest part about the whole thing. Who is going to stand vigil and remember the Chor Tempest?
The theme of memory is one that has real value the older you get. It doesn’t have to be mixed with regret, but it can. It certainly can be filled with “what ifs” and “now I get why.” Kanon is the story about a boy who grew up and couldn’t remember. It’s not a tropical, swashbuckling Peter Pan, but a downtempo, warm embrace. Because of that, re-watching Kanon is an enthralling experience. It’s not quite just going through the motions, but also going through your emotions when you remember your first trip with Yuuichi. It encourages you to remember. Could I remember Nayuki’s name if she asked?
What’s even more beautiful about this upcoming circumstance is that no longer we find our dusty, old remembrances dated with age. With even a critical eye we can re-examine Kanon through its new body. Thanks Kyoani! It’s really having the best of both worlds.
Memory is a favorite theme for many great pieces of anime. Hopefully I’ll be able to tell you just how that plays with Paprika tomorrow. I suppose that’s why I’m somewhat soft versus Charlie Kaufman’s films? Not to mention Satoshi Kon, but even Mamoru Oshii’s rendition in Jin-Roh and the two Ghost in the Shell films touch on this.
I’ve Fallen And I Can’t Get Up, Get Off of Me New Anime!
I’ve fallen over from watching new anime blind.
That calm, deep blue. High-pressure Autumn air clusters. North American life. A suburbian existance characterizes the later part of my childhood. And not just any suburb, but one closely attached to a big metropolitan area. I’ve done this, just not during recess.
And I can’t get up. Out from the pit that Red Garden has got me. Like a dominatrix with her hand around your balls? Innocent lamb in the jaws of Satan? No, more like escapism and someone who wants to run.
Blogging Is Not Safe for Your Reputation
I am kind of recollecting what’s left of me from a weekend of romance, heroics, and reminescense. Twenty-six episodes of Nadesico viewed between Friday night and tonight, inspired by Harold and Kumar’s demand for satisfaction, would do just that. It wasn’t the tour-de-force I expected, but it was a test of my conviction as someone who spends much of his waking hours thinking and watching and talking about anime.
Somehow my identity has been wrapped around this tapestry of cultural nuiances, humanist worldview, and an idealist’s plea trapped in a realist’s body. The theme of memory; the limitation of human, for both our gain and loss; learning how to love both yourself and those around you; living and seeing that there is more to life than your flesh limitation. Calling each other by our spiritual destinies.
I love ranting about Nadesico. If you can’t tell.
I know a lot of people browse the web when they’re working at a relatively cushy job that lets them, well, browse the web. It’s no big deal if you’re working in an academic lab or something casual, but if you go “squeee” when the blogs on your RSS aggregator link to shady images, don’t complain. Even if you took the care to not read something like HD or the dirty, dirty RIUVA at work, and read sites that are admittedly tame enough, simple looking and don’t follow links to girls in gothloli underpants…
But you should feel very good. Why? Because you’re not one of these people. They nail Blood+ well, I think, but somehow the use of visual, verbal description of the content of their dialogue helps to insulate us from subtle uncomfort of the words, and having the pleasure to converse with both of them just like that changes how I look at the situation. In other words, their podcast is just like any other podcast from these kinds of enterprises. Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo? Props to Rah^2 for linking me with a sexed up Riku, and making me look up Ajia-do. Maybe I will do a lo-down on Blood+ someday, but hearing what I had to say, said, leaves me unmotivated (and that’s a good thing).
Perhaps, one day, when we can idle like the well-to-do fantasy cast of Ouran High School Host Club, we can probably also learn to live like the Poor Sisters from their stories. So we can paint not only cherubums or make snow rabbits, but to do so in honor of both our failures and successes on a day of atonement like today. For these memories that forged Ruri’s identity; that is why a humanist live. Sadly, that’s not how I live; Omoikane is not one for this world, after all.
Definitely not if one gets executed from making bad puns.
Feeling Like Another 10 Sweet Years with Ms. Yamato Nadeshiko
Another 3651 days and counting.
Or if you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her, why don’t you pay her a visit? It’s her 10th birthday after all.
