These one-off posts will focus on three works of art (no specific medium) by
way of a brief review or sketch of an idea. One idea per work of art, and then
a final concluding paragraph – I intend to arrange a one-off post so that there
is a general, overarching theme. In the ending I will tie the three works of
art together loosely. I hope that these short posts can help me out when I aim
to return to works of art to write longer posts. I will likely pick three works
of art that I recently consumed, with emphasis on the ones I like the most. I
hope this format is not confusing but rather adds some helpful diversity to my
posts.
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1.
Wolf Children
Today I read the
manga adaptation of Wolf Children, a
film directed by Mamoru Hosoda. He directed The
Girl Who Leapt Through Time, one of my favorite movies, so I had high hopes
for this film (and the manga). Wolf
Children has wonky pacing as a film but the ideas are fresh and original,
allowing them to penetrate deeply into the psyche. The movie and manga both hit
rather hard emotionally because the characters face such adversity. In one
scene, Yuki, in a very loud and tearful manner, repeatedly exclaims “I’m sorry”
to her mother; her serious intent is reflected in her repetition. Reading the
manga helped me clarify and re-process the material underlying the film,
allowing me to more fully appreciate the story. Both are beautiful. The manga
has gargantuan yet lovely images of mountains, and other scenery, and the
characters, allowing the viewer to focus on them. The film was, however, faster
and had these sweeping cinematographic shots. One scene exuberantly keeps pace with Ame,
Yuki, and Hana as they run across the fresh snow; the frame shakes along with
the characters as they continue, giving a realistic effect that lets the viewer
keep up with the moving frame. The framing, animation, and landscapes combined
create a visually impressive film.
Asides from that
which I usually enjoy, I really respected how the film explored Hana as a
single mother. Usually, in art, the family is typically nuclear – though it
tends to be dysfunctional, this approach affirms what a “normal” family is
supposed to be. However, here the family is a single parent household yet they
are not depicted as fragmented. Wolf
Children is unique and simultaneously plausible, creating an endearing
depiction. Seeing their father pass way adds to this effect since we as viewers
can understand their struggle – we cannot attach the typical stigma against
single mothers. Hana is a single human
mother and she now must raise Ame and Yuki – Wolf Children – on her own. The
children share dual identities as wolves and humans, making them fundamentally
separate from Hana. Despite this barrier, Hana never gives up – she does what
is best for her children even as they struggle with their self-conception. The
ability for Hosoda to portray this family as strong - even as they drift apart
based on their perceived abilities – is admirable.
That is all part
of why I find Wolf Children very
compelling. The film can be emotional yet admirable, sincere while not
completely morose – there is humanity wrapped inside the film and manga.
2.
Honey and Clover
The manga series of Honey and Clover was an emotional ride that I completed only
recently. But its focus on an art school in Tokyo should seem removed from my
experiences – I graduated in engineering, which is not similar in the
slightest. However, the main characters in Honey
and Clover spend a lot of time on projects – they question their identity
as they question their progress. As a researcher I did much of the same thing,
though I did not do an art project. I wondered if my thesis was artistic – if it
was both clear but imbued with a distinctive voice that made it enjoyable to
read. In that sense, I was metaphorically sculpting my knowledge into an
aesthetically appealing form. I questioned the validity and creativity of my
project, much like the art students questioned their senior projects. The series focuses on characters getting
older – Mayama graduates and gets a job, Yamada ends up back at the academy,
and Takemoto and Hagu end up on the unusual path of adulthood too. Seeing these
events unfold reminded me that I was now in the midst of adulthood. The Honey and Clover cast deals with many
unusual tasks and they all fit being an adult – the manga painted the picture
of adulthood for me. Now there was no turning back. And, as time passes,
relationships fray.
3.
BoJack Horseman
Today I finished
season 1 of BoJack Horseman, which is
a Netflix Original show. In many ways, BoJack is simply a lonely person who has
few friends, late in life – he is an extraordinarily disillusioned person.
Though his path is unusual, he embodies the loneliness and sadness of
adulthood. In another way, he is clearly adult: his love-life is so disjointed
and no matter what he does, he cannot make up his mind or do anything beyond
being half-hearted. He ends up wanting two different people romantically but
both get torn from his grasp anyways, as if life has no concern for BoJack’s
happiness. Adulthood is apparently loveless and lonely so it’s hard to accept
that good things can happen. Therefore, one must try to make a difference, even
if there’s this fear that you cannot do anything. BoJack is not a show about
perseverance in the lofty, propagandist sense: it’s about never giving up on
life itself, even if life refuses to be helpful.
4.
Conclusion
The theme is the
adversity of adulthood – love is also
tense and my fail as part of adult life and you may lose touch with
yourself and your friends. Ultimately, the passage of time is brutal –
adulthood is thus very brutal. The struggle, hopefully, is worthwhile and gifts
adults with wisdom and valuable experiences instead of sorrow over lost time.
If things must be lost over time, then hopefully there is still something to be
gained. Otherwise struggling and living as an adult would not be remotely
worthwhile.
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