"The World of Anime Fandom in America"

Particularly focused on the fans of Miyazaki Films (Like me!)

I will not hesitate to say that I believe that Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli films are some of the most beautiful works of art ever made. I think it's important to note that I am a big Miyazaki fan myself and I therefore have no small amount of bias about this subject. As I read this article I was able to relate to many of the themes, including a love of the artwork, the ambiguous ideas of good vs evil and the fascinating characters. I think the increased number of anime fans in the United States is a sign of our increased willingness to embrace art from other cultures, to better understand each other. I will use several Studio Ghibli films to prove my point. 

(I have to warn any readers of this post: SPOILERS MIGHT BE AHEAD. I have seen nearly every Miyazaki film that has come out and so I will talk about many of them liberally, flinging out spoilers to enhance my points. In addition, if YOU (yes, YOU reading this, right now) have little to now knowledge about Studio Ghibli films, you may soon become very confused. You have been warned!)

I feel obligated to say that my favorite of Miyazaki's films is Laputa: Castle in the Sky (pictured above) and I was a little disappointed that it was only mentioned once in the article. It is almost a perfect film, from the adventure, to the characters to the music... I could fanboy for hours about this film, but I will restrain myself. I was interested in the idea that this film, Castle in the Sky, might not be as popular among the community of fans discussed in the reading. 

I hypothesize that the reason for the lack of discussion is the lack of controversy. Castle in the Sky is almost an atypical Miyazaki film simply because it DOES have a clear villain and two nearly perfect heroes. The good guys love nature and peace and the bad guys love technology and violence. The film is filled with black and white themes, rather than grey ones. Both main characters are dragged, unwillingly on an adventure brought about by greedy human beings. In addition, it does not show many elements of Japanese culture that the other films would be more revered for: Spirited Away has the exotic bathhouse setting and Princess Monoke has a battle between Eastern nature gods, monks, miners, and an exiled prince. I think the discussion about Castle in the Sky has been reduced simply because it is a simpler film. 

However, I wasn't trying to turn this post into an attack or defense for one of my favorite films. I think it really proves my main point rather well. The fans of Miyazaki films discussed in the reading, are from all different age groups, occupations, countries, and religions. They are united by a love of Studio Ghibli films and I believe that their interest in the more controversial films is very telling. Films with unclear messages are more fun to talk about and deeper characters with interesting morals make for more entertaining debate. 

These discussions show a willingness of people from tons of different countries to attempt to understand each other. After all, the article points out the Studio Ghibli films and most anime in general, are aimed at the native Japanese audience first. I think the idea that Americans, Europeans and people from around the world are attempting to understand these films on their terms is admirable. After all, countries around the world watch American films and it is only fair that we should take a look at the works of other countries. I would wager that Japanese works like anime and manga are the largest source of foreign culture that the United States receives. This helps broaden our horizons and increase our own creativity. 

As much as I love a simple adventure film like Castle in the Sky, I understand the further "discussablity" of these other films. I believe that movies that challenge you to interpret messages on your own or understand different cultures are the best kind. A film that draws you in with gorgeous visuals but keeps you coming back for the complex morals and culture differences are expanding your comfort zone, bit by bit. Not to get all sappy at the end, but I think increased understanding of other cultures is the key to the future. It's why I study anthropology. 

Cruel Intentions?

The Illuminati was originally a secret society founded in 1776 who claimed special religious enlightenment. Even today we still do not necessarily know who the Illuminati are, but we understand them as a society that has a lot of control over unseen things. In class this week we watched a parody video connecting the famous hackers anonymous with Illuminati.  Anonymous is a loosely associated international network of activists and hackers who generally believe information needs to be free. They believe hiding knowledge is a form of control. Through out the parody, reading, and discussion for this week a question that came up is whether or not a room full of people could agree on if hacking was ever deserved. 

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The word “hacker” is associated with “vigilante justice,” “crime,” and “government.” This week in class, we discussed different types of hacking, along with the ethical ramifications of these activities. 

An Anonymous Community

At first glance, the spying done by the FBI could possibly be equated with hacking. Both have the potential to dismantle people's lives and both are often done under the radar. But is there something more community-oriented integrated in hacking that draws people in, lets them contribute to a larger ideology, or take a stand for their beliefs? Cue Anonymous.

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With the evolution of bright, connective, and intelligent technology, came the invasive attack and misuse of it. Here I am referring specifically to hacking, and how it has evolved from a cutesy hobby to a unethical crime.