The woman warrior in Japan Animation (at the crossroad between technology, nature, animal and strength)
two examples of how Japan Animation uses women figures as embodiment of strength and hybrid of nature, animal and technology
the “Major” in Ghost in the Shell
Princess Mononoke
Nausicaa
November 17, 2008 at 5:03 pm
it is intersting to me the postion of power and strength that is put into the female characters in this clip. i’m not too sure of it significance but it kind of equates them with the power displayed by the “other” in the clip. like discussed in class for example the picture of the woman holding the big gun, you notice in this clip that the women are all controlling big machines which puts them in a place of power and authority.
November 17, 2008 at 5:05 pm
it is interesting to me the postion of power and strength that is put into the female characters in this clip. i’m not too sure of its significance but it kind of equates the women with the power displayed by the “other” in the clip. like discussed in class for example the picture of the woman holding the big gun, you notice in this clip that the women are all controlling big machines which puts them in a place of power and authority. So it seem like there is a relationship between the women and the machines in the cyborg films.
November 18, 2008 at 6:37 am
I found the Princess Mononoke clip to be really interesting. It portrayed this incredibly strong female character and a strong male character coming to another women for help – it seemed that the male character was meant to be matched by Princess Mononoke, but I can’t see any possible romance between the two threatening her own sense of purpose or character – which is rare in media.
Romantic heterosexual relationships in Hollywood film almost always focus on the need to sacrifice or compromise, often on the woman’s part. The clip made me want to see the film so I can see whether my expectations for the female character being as independent and self-sufficient (despite a possible romance?) will be met.
November 29, 2008 at 4:15 am
After watching Princess Mononoke and the clip, it seems like there are two ideologies against each other. There is the war-like, and profit seeking people under Lady Eboshi contasted with the natural balance wanted by San. The former is, as the narrator puts it “man” or a male perspective; whereas the latter represents the female and more peaceful, co-existant one.
December 10, 2008 at 6:50 am
Princess Mononoke, one of my favourite movies, has an interesting depiction of strong women characters. Firstly, there are various instances of strong women throughout this film. Firstly, there is San, a feral girl who has been taken in by the Giant Wolves. Second, there is lady Eboshi who runs IroncTown, and is seeking to claim the forest spirit’s head, putting her directly oppositional to San. Thirdly, there is the ladies of Iron-town, who not only work all day fueling flames for the iron ore, but also fight. Lastly, there is Moro the mother of the two wolves, and I suppose adopted mother of San. There is something about the women’s portrayal in this movie, as maternal, nurturing, but also powerful. As far as this maternal extinct, it seems to correlate with the notion of nature, and animal. The men are, without a doubt, subordinate, and subservient to the women in this movie. Beyond Ahitaka, the men garner next to no respect. Irontown is absolutely run by the women. As far as strength, we see how San embodies the virtues of both strength, and animal. She represents nature in this film, directly oppositional to the women on irontown which represent, strength, but also technology as opposed to nature, and animal. There is definitely something there in regards to women being closer to nature than the men. Lady Eboshi definitely displays compassion, and nurturing nature to both her girls, nature, and others, but in the end is overwhelmed with ideas of greed and imperialism. You can tell she is trying to make a name for herself and the women of irontown who are usually subserviant to the men. With San and Moro it is easy to see there connection to nature, and their direct opposition to technology. Men seem to represent a desire for technological progress, and the colonial and exploitative nature that comes with it. This manifests itself in the emperor ordering for the head of the forest god to be removed.