Showing posts with label Anime. Show all posts
ME!ME!ME!: Modern Art, Social Commentary, Or Both?
So if you've been anywhere near the internet in the last few weeks, you've heard about, if not already seen ME!ME!ME!: A anime music video (for lack of a better term), made by Anno Hideaki (the creator of Evangelion), Teddy Loid ft. daoko, and Studio Khara. If you haven't watched it, stop reading, watch the video located in the link below and come back. *Warning* The video isn't safe for work or the general public. Watch this alone if possible.
The video premiered at Animator's Expo and received a mixed response within the anime community. This is largely due to the graphic nature of the video, with heavy amounts of gratuitous violence, overtly sexual imagery on the brink of pornography, and use of psychedelic drugs; As an anime-viewer that's hardly too far from the norm but that's where the heart of the video lies. It's a social commentary on Otaku culture and I'll explain why.
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At this point, we're introduced with the manifestation of Syu's obsession and his regret: a nude masked girl. Later on, we see a bleak scene where she is on the ground, unmasked, crying out to him and yet he's unsympathetic as he walks away. This stands out against the saturated color scheme and tone of the music shown throughout the rest of the video. This illustrates his guilt, as it comes back to literally gnaw on him, particularly his intestines.
The Seven Stages of Denial When Your Favorite Anime/Manga Ends
We all have our favorite anime/manga series that we've grown to love and resonate with, but what happens when that series ends? It doesn't matter if you're a super-fan that's collected all the merchandise that exists or if you're just a casual reader/watcher; Chances are, you're going to experience these stages (in any order). This can also apply to the death of your favorite character or the debunking of your One-True-Pairing.
Shock & Disbelief:
Pain & Guilt:
Anger & Bargaining:
With all the emotions you're feeling, you're eventually going to experience anger as well. You'll blame the mangaka, other fans, and you'll start selfish online petitions to bring your series back, even if the mangaka has moved on.
Depression & Loneliness:
Eventually you'll realize there's nothing you can do. Most people around you won't understand how much this series affected you, so you just lay there, in despair, reflecting on the series.
Stability:
As time goes on, you'll channel your emotions into something positive. You'll still miss your series, but by now you might start looking at a new series because someone suggested it to you.
Application:
You'll take what you learned from that series, the mottoes of your favorite characters and use it to better your life. You'll find more people with common interests and eventually move on to the last stage.
Acceptance & Hope:
You've accepted your fate and even though the series ended, it lives on through you. You've found new series to follow and you'll once again experience the excitement that comes with a great manga/anime. You might even start shipping characters again!
Losing a anime/manga isn't an easy thing, especially when it's really affected the person you are. Just remember, life goes on and there are plenty of other fans who've felt the exact same as you.
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