Simms - Technology vs. Humanity

What makes us human?

The movies we have dealt with so far have shown that technology can sometimes be more harmful than beneficial to the human condition. Sometimes it can lead to an individual feeling uncertain about their own humanity as technology becomes more advanced and it can definitely have an impact on their mental stability. In Akira, for example, we are given a character who has always felt like a victim most of his life, but is finally given the technology that will allow him to defend himself instead of needing saving. Tetsuo does not see the danger of so much power because he sees how he can change his identity to become the person he always wanted to be. Eventually, he loses both the physical appearance and personality that identified him. In the other anime, Perfect Blue, it is shown how sometimes who we are to others can affect how we view our identity. Technology has exposed Mima to a wide audience of people who judge her every move and action. The approval of these people who claim to be her fans threaten how Mima feels about herself because she is constantly changing to try to be who they want her to be. The stress of trying to figure out who she is (a pop star, actress, or just Mima) causes her to have a breakdown. Finally, Ghost in the Shell deals with the concept that our physical, human body is what is the most important part of our identity. I think that identity in Ghost in the Shell brings up the issue of, after so many cyborg enhancements, when does a person stop being human? The Major questioned who she was because one of her main purposes was to use her cybernetic body to serve her job. Section 9 was who created her, so it probably makes her whether she is her own person or who the section created. I think that all films show that everyone will question who they are and the type of person they are becoming at some point in our life. We all worry about losing qualities of ourselves that we believe makes us human. Even those around will impact how we feel regarding these issues. 

Simms - Who is Mima?

Perfect Blue

The objectification of women in the media is clearly shown in Perfect Blue. It seemed as if the men in Mima’s life were the ones that were contributing to her worth. No one took the time to ask her about the situations that she was being put in, and that caused her to go along with what she felt obligated to do for her acting career. Even Mima’s fans seemed to care more about her body and their image of her than they did about her as an individual. The producers of the show and the photographer for the magazine she was in seemed to be focused more about displaying her sexuality and the rape scene and the nude photo shoot were two things that Mima did not seem to want to be a part of. However, Mima once again puts the demands of others over what she really wants. Everyone in the movie (including her stalker, manger, and assistant) seem to have more say in her life than she does. In the end, she was becoming a puppet that others were manipulating.

That also brings up the idea of an unstable identity. I felt as if Mima’s sense of self was dependent upon those around her. Rumi’s actions, like starting the “real Mima” website, confused Mima and made her question whether she could trust her own memories. Even the acting she was doing in the movie made the line between herself and the character she was playing blur. Mima was giving up so much of herself that when she tried to stop and think about who she really was, she could only depend upon who she was in relation to those around her.

I thought that there were many similarities between Black Swan and Perfect Blue. Both movies had characters that had an onset of schizophrenia in response to the stress that they were feeling from their respective careers. I think that both characters felt very alone in their struggles because when they tried to tell someone what they were going through they were quickly dismissed. However, I don’t think that Mima let her career consume her as much as the lead in Black Swan did. 

Simms - The Lone Rider in Cowboy Bebop

Spike

Spike’s statement that he was only going against Vincent for the money was contradicted by the fact that he was going through extreme lengths to find him, lengths that almost got him killed. I don’t know if he would have risked that much if it was just for the money. For instance, there was the scene on the train that almost got Spike killed when he was shot by Vincent. After that incident took place Spike could have walked away from it all because he would not be getting the money, and at the same time he would have realized that Vincent was more than just a terrorist. Another scene which demonstrated how Spike’s past fears and anxieties go against his “just for the money” talk is when he decides to face Vincent by himself in the final battle. I think it shows how he is trying to face his past fears by himself and that maybe he believes that beating Vincent will allow him to move on in a way.

I saw Rashid as one of Spike’s few resources to the truth throughout the film. Most of his information on Vincent has come from Rashid, and even when it shows that he knows Rashid’s true identity he still depends on the information that he is being given. He depends on him, but he does not necessarily trust him. I saw Elektra as being a kindred spirit to Spike. She is just as determined to get the information needed about Vincent and they are going through extreme lengths to get to him. Also, when they are in the jail cells together it is revealed that they have both lost someone that they love. However, the most interesting relationship is the one between Vincent and Spike. These are two characters who are troubled by their past and in search of the truth. Spike’s past is motivating him to find out the truth about Vincent, and Vincent’s lack of knowledge about his past is what is pushing him to find out the truth about “purgatory”.  They are both loners who don’t usually seem to want the aid of others in their mission and see one another as obstacles. 

Simms - The Supernatural and The Samurai

Kagero

Ninja Scroll had a much bigger focus on the supernatural than the previous film. In this story, those who possessed any magical or supernatural powers were the antagonists, especially seen in the ninja team: Devils of Kimon. Magic in Ninja Scroll was not used with good intentions. Those with supernatural powers also represented certain vices, such as greed, lust, and jealousy. I think these ties in with the Shinto belief that deities, or kami, could even be human emotions or abstract concepts. It was interesting to see Japanese history and mythology that was reflected. 

I also felt as if the samurai and ninjas in the film weren’t really given the chance to be their own people, which led to some of the rebellion seen in some of the characters. Jubei had to go against his clan when his lord and companions betrayed him. Everything the ninjas and samurai did was under the orders of someone else. A team of Mochizuki Koga ninjas are murdered and their lord did not go to any great lengths to avenge them. Kagero was sent on a dangerous mission by the leader of her clan, and in the end nothing was done to assist her. It sort of shows that the main characters of the film have others above them that don’t put much worth in the lives of their followers.

Even though, the Shogun of the Dark is never seen onscreen, he still plays a pivotal role in the story. The Devils of Kimon are apparently committing their crimes under his order. His rank allows him to have many people under his command, so instead of getting involved in the missions himself he can be the ringleader of everything. There is a sense of mystery kept around the Shogun through the majority of the film.

I definitely think that women played a bigger and more powerful role in Ninja Scroll than in Akira. I think that there was a better balance. It wasn’t just Jubei saving Kagero throughout the movie; she saved him in many instances. Kagero had character development and a purpose to the story just like the other male leads. 

Simms - Akira's Effect on Neo-Tokyo

The movie Akira follows the theme that a corrupt city is made that way by the people who manage it. It plays on the fear that the government is involved in projects that have the potential to harm those that they are supposed to be governing. The citizens in Neo-Tokyo don’t seem to feel the need to follow a government that cannot do its duty to the people. There are no respectable political figures in the movie, and even the military is treading on dangerous ground that has the potential to harm more than just one person. The military’s genetic experiments within the story were led by individuals who did not seem to care that their work was hurting the people that they were testing them on and that necessary precautions must be taken when an experiment is being pushed that far. Then there are also the ethical ramifications. Even if Tetsuo would have agreed to the experiments, would it have been right to put that much power in the hands of a child?

I feel as if Tetsuo’s final transformation reflects how power has the ability to corrupt a person completely. Tetsuo was unstable before the experiments began and the consuming power didn’t do anything to improve that state. The power that he was given not only changed his personality, but it also had a very damaging effect on him physically. In the end, he’s completely unrecognizable from the person he was in the beginning of the film.

I think that one of the most interesting things about the character Akira was the different reactions that he inspired from the people in Neo-Tokyo. Akira was kept a mystery for most of the movie so the only explanation of what he was is hinted throughout the film by other characters, and even then the viewers are not given a complete clarification. The government saw Akira as something that should be feared, experimented on, and considered dangerous. They created Akira, but at the same time they were the ones that tore him apart. However, the citizens within Tokyo seemed to see Akira as a savior from a corrupt government. To them, Akira is a sign of rebellion that can be used to support their cause. 

Akira?

Simms - Introduction

I'm Destiny Simms, a Psychology major here at Loyola. I’m considering continuing my studies after Loyola in a counseling program. I work in the office for the Department of Languages and Cultures and plan on trying to stay there for my work study. I've moved around Louisiana most of my childhood but I spent most of it in New Orleans. I have way too many books to read and my desk in my dorm room is covered in them, but at the moment I'm reading the complete collection of Sherlock Holmes. I've been to Disney World fifteen times because my family loves going there and I don’t think that it will stop any time soon. Other than those vacations my family sometimes travels to different states throughout the United States. One of my ambitions in life is to have the chance to travel to different countries and learn as much as I can. I think other cultures can be fascinating and I would love to learn about the languages in those countries. I’m hoping that while I’m at Loyola I have the chance to study abroad more than once. I have a sister who is ten years younger than me and is still confused about why I’m going to college. I started watching anime as a first year in high school because a friend of mine finally convinced me to watch one, and soon I was hooked. The first one I watched was Death Note and I thought it was amazing. However, my favorite anime and manga series of all time would have to be Full Metal Alchemist.  I thought the characters in it were interesting and the storyline was really complex and entertaining. I ended up attending the anime convention that took place in New Orleans and I really enjoyed it. I hope that I can find a way to attend the one that is taking place this upcoming fall. Since I got to Loyola I really haven’t had the time to watch anime as much as I use to, so I hope this class gives me the chance to watch more. 

Lan Fan