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A Study Of Japanese Animation, Michele Gibney
A Study Of Japanese Animation, Michele Gibney
Michele Gibney
This paper takes a sociological approach to the question of popular culture’s ability in Japan--specifically that of Japanese animation--to be reflective of the country's sociological concerns. This is not to say that all anime shows consciously reflect Japanese life, but by extrapolation of recurrent themes one can construct a model of certain sociological issues in Japan. The author split the paper up into five sections each of which tackles a different theme. These sections are: Education, Social and Class Differences, Environment, Post-Nuclear Visions, and An Emergent Feminism. The main point that the author conveys in each section is a way …
The Long Shot As Loss Of Faith In Kurosawa’S Ran, Michele Gibney
The Long Shot As Loss Of Faith In Kurosawa’S Ran, Michele Gibney
Michele Gibney
The final shot in the movie Ran by Akira Kurosawa betrays a crushing pessimism about the state of the society. In a world where the heroes die, the presence of a benevolent God is brought into serious scrutiny. With the dropping of the Amida Buddha scroll the movie establishes as its “moral” the chaos of man in a world without religion. In discussing the movie in connection with the final images I will be analyzing one of the most important themes of the film: withdrawal from humanity.