Issues of Identity Anime Characters - Essay Example

Manga/anime characters can be defined as created characters from dreams, fiction, movies and many other sources for example Rickards (1999) in his screening interiority article the manga/anime character depicted there is satoshi whose animated dreams are drawn from. It is difficult to exist without telling stories because all what people wake up to do is to tell their life experiences, narrate their dreams, attend social centres, narrate their family history to their children among so many others. We always tell stories to ourselves or others and this is where the relationship between us, the world and others make sense and brings out identity. A narrative can be defined as an account of events or experiences and must have actions, characters involvement and a plot. Identity comes out via autobibiography work which is engaged by everyone everyday but it is not produced by the telling of a life.Narratives make us more intelligent and its through narratives that we understand our identity. Identity emerges from narratives used by people to understand and explain their lives and is not something important since it has no roots. The sociality of narratives is what gives identity. There is some believe about the existence of a relationship between identity and re-incarnation. In such social sectors where re-incarnation is accepted, there are three forms of identity namely continuing self, family identity and the dissolution of the self. This characterizes the many religions that exist. Re-incarnation can be defined as coming back again in a different body(Walter, 2001) Gina is one of the characters whose identity comes out clearly in the narration of her character in relation to her mother.Walter (2001) in his article Reincarnation, Modernity and Identity identifies that Gina who is his manga is totally different from her mother in terms of thinking, sociality and behaviour. Gina’s prefers a lifestyle that is totally different from her mother’s. She wish to have many children, have a lot of people around her, own a big house. She aspires to have a middle class for her family unlike her mother who is a working class lady and does not want visitors or children playing in the house as this will mess up the house. According to Gina’s mother kids should play outside so that the house remains clean. This narrative has a connection between Gina’s life and her identity as she assembles memories, stories and experiences to produce an identity. Gina employs cultural symbols such as fictional narratives for example when she narrates her movement through time by referring to the famous five and this helps in understanding her character and identity. When she claims to desire many adventurous children and huge rambly houses is a sign of existence of a certain kind of class. She expresses unity of change which is dynamic through time. The creative acts observed throughout the narrative produces the identity of Gina whereby her experiences and memories are interpreted within the narrative. Sociality is another factor that brings out understanding of ones life through narrations. Telling of a life means interpretation of that life and thus understanding the individual even better. Intensification of narrative within analysis of sociology and social sciences has greatly increased. Telling of a life compresses some specific periods in favor of others and indicates how memory functions through selective processes. There are five features that provide attention to biography background. These characteristics include; a turn to textuality whereby written texts are viewed as social products, the agency has been questioned also among individuals and collective action, referentiality and lives examination, there has been a significant increase in attention to time which explains the compression of periods in favor of others and also shows the functioning of the memory through selective processes and lastly application of intertextuality has become very significant. Analyses of narratives give analysts an understanding of how individuals understand and create sense of their lives (Lawler, 2008). Characterization is brought out in narratives through use of memories, stories and identities. Narratives help to embed individuals into the social world. Narratives link the past to the present. In the Gina’s narrative characterization is brought out through identity which engages events as they happen in her mothering life in comparison to her mother’s life. Gina’s version of lifestyle portrays the current middle-class families in most part of the world. Bryce (2008) in his article known as another half brings out two manga/anime characters who are twins. The twins were separated when young and have grown in different cultural and social backgrounds and this creates a lot of rivalry between them as they both have different views and ideas of carryout different activities. The twins were separated and this made them develop different personality traits which have brought out differences in their identity. The twins are physically identical and resemble one another physically which is a force that brings them together. Characterization in the manga and anime is brought out in the identical twins via self fashioning and individual’s quest for social conformity. Sociality has been shown to bring out identity through linking different people and events. There is a lot of rivalry, conflict and differences between the identical twins and jealousy plays an important role. The twins may be interpreted as dramatization of the self and the mirrored self as jealous explores psychological issues. They are portrayed as the split and segmented self and ego makes them to have a lot of internal conflicts. There is a lot of anxiety and uncertainty about individual identity in the twin narratives and is especially that of the girls. A major topic in narrative-driven manga and anime is the quest for individual identity due to the differences in the upbringing of the twins. The twins in manga/anime are more visible and more colorfully depicted than in Japan novels. Characterization of twins in manga works is explained by the quest for the subjective agency for the social conformity struggle. The twins are represented as identical twins and male/female twins whose appearance is similar. Twins seem to coincide and complement each other but are a duo that never actually do. The ambivalent interrelationship of the twins does not affect the strong bond between them and this is the most resonating feature of these manga/anime narratives. The strong bond is also contributed by the fact that the twins have a lot of physical resemblance (Bryce, 2008) Social conformity is the characterization that emerges in the manga narratives as the twins have been brought up in different sociobackgrounds making them conform differently in the society. This also causes the twins to have a distant relationship because each has a quest for identity that is different. The issue of identity helps to bring out the characters of each twin and we are able to know who the twins are and understand them even better. The differences observed bring out the issue of social classes and also portrays the actual society. The identity that is brought out is relation to self-acceptance. This is because the twins are observed to exhibit a lot of indifference due to the ego in each one of them. This is simply because they lack self acceptance but the situation changes when the twins reunite and accept one another. There is also identity in relation to others which is depicted in the way the twins’ quest for individual identity. This is also observed in the narrative about Gina who desires a middle class but unlike the twins, Gina has a desire while the twins have been force to be in their specific social classes by their childhood upbringing. The similarity in their social class issue is that both have been conformed by the society in which they grew. For Gina, her mother inspired her while the twins found themselves in those social classes. In another film whereby a twelve year old girl is orphaned and her mother leaves her with the responsibility of taking care of her younger siblings. These children have to grow under the social, economic and cultural background their elder sister will expose them to. Zinzi the orphaned girl is terrified by the great task and the journey she has to conquer through the memories and dreams she has. Memories and fanaticizes depicts the experience of the character (Rickards, 1999) The genre of science fiction focuses on the nature of human being and the hardness of being human due to the difficult tasks involved. Science fiction is observed as simply addressing anxieties that are contemporary. These fictional narratives help us to understand about creation and destruction i.e. our humanness. Limitations of humankind reflect hopes and fears of the expanding robotics and cultural artificial intelligence today is also reflected. The way humans are controlled by a program is the same as how we are driven by the artificial beings found in the films we watch. These fictional films influence our character. These are fears of human replacement with robotics according to science fiction. There are fears of human replacement by robotics according to science fiction. A central concern of the genre is reflected by these fictional films. A concern that underlies disastrous images that lead to anxiety about who we are i.e. our nature. The desire to wield a shaping power is fore grounded by these fictional images. Science fiction films have turned our cultural imaginations into dreams that confront us. The images of human in these fictional films show interaction between the human and the technological lying at the science fiction heart. These films reaffirm the sense of sense of self and the idea of using robotics in science fiction produces the sense of self which is a factor of identity. Science fiction brings out the identity in relationship to others as most humans try to act and view themselves as the robotics in the fiction films. These films have helped humans to redefine themselves and understand their culture. These films bring out the characterization of otherness and we can maintain being human beings as it ought to be. Science fiction films have been shown to develop a fear of technology or machines as it threatens the natural social organization. The fear is also due to reconstruction because science fiction suggests that the nature can be reconstructed, thus humans fear that the self too could be altered by a fluid as such. Science fiction films are not always a source of fear but also produce ideologies that can help in reconstructing human identity (Teloittes, 1995) The narrative about Yokai is centrally about certain cultural moments. Culture is known for providing identity in that one identifies with the cultural background he or she is brought up in. Recognition of value as cultural commodities is represented by the collecting of Yokai by evocative of a past that is ideological. In mizuki manga, illustrations are done to present character. His narratives involve memories, monsters, and manga and are very creative. Memories involve remembering the past and they are used in narratives to link the past to the present and also create flow in the narrative which brings out characterization of the different characters in the narrative. Mizuki describes the features of creatures to describe the personal resemblances and also to create remembrances. For a narrative to be complete and comprehensive remembrance of the past events is very important as this brings out the character of memories that also show the identity of one self. The characterization brought out in this narrative is identity in relation to others. Mizuki narrates monster stories to relate with the different lifestyles i.e. rural village and the life of the countryside. Ass a human being with supernatural powers, Mizuki has ability to translate and negotiate realms of experiences that are different (Foster, 2008). The manga/anime characters of the same kind in the narrative of the first Japanese film are vampires. The story rotates around a series of killings believed to be caused by a vampire. The victims are found to have on their necks puncture wounds. There are other vampire narratives as observed in the Japanese films which bring out various comic-strip techniques that mark the style of manga. A high degree of aspects to aspect transitions from panel to panel are observed. This allows bypass of time and the reader is able to concentrate on the place, idea or mood aspect. Vampire films involve use of animation so as to bring out the human character in them. These created characters are made in a way that they live, suffer, feel joy and anger and they also die. Freedom is created between the camera operators and animation so as to make the crowd feel the involvement and also identify with the screen action. Animation is associated with violence, gore, among other features. Use of animes has intensified over time and is being employed even in soap operas whereby the viewers try to identify with the characters they adore. This brings out the character of identity in relation to others. Use of vampires in narratives has been applied to depict the sociality of humans and also to identify oneself. The lessons learnt from animation are through comparison of ones behavior with that of the characters in the film. Use of vampires in films indicates the historic violence and sexual exploitation in Japan. This is just a representation of the very many countries where violence and sexual harassment occurs. Such happenings suppress private feelings and opinions. Some of the stylistic characteristics and conventions are displayed by vampires of anime specific to Japanese animation. In the tales about vampires, myths are also used and they are a form of teaching which brings about the past and they are also fictional (Barlett, Natalie & Bellows, 1997) In conclusion, characterization is brought out by memories, stories and narrations as been observed in all the stories. Interaction and socializing through narrations brings out the character in one self in relation to others. The kind of identity brought out is both in relation to others and to self acceptance. Both in the Gina’s story and the twins narration there is identity in relation to others. It has turned out that identity can also be explained by considering issues like religion e.g. in countries whereby reincarnation is believed. Narratives have proved to be an essential tool in explaining the identity of different people with different cultural and social backgrounds. Identity brings about the issue of self and other by linking the past and the present and this helps in the understanding who we really are the manga/anime characters of the same kind in these narratives are monsters and vampires and their characterization depicts issues of identity in relation to others and self acceptance. Issue of sociality is brought out in the films that involve vampires and monsters and this contributes to the development of identity because in socializing one gets to know the people he/she is living with. Understanding one self becomes important in developing self acceptance the reason being that denial results from lack of identity and self confidence thus it’s very crucial to obtain identity of oneself in relation to others. References Barlett, Natalie & Bellows, D.B. (1997) ‘The Supernatural Ronin: Vampires in Japanese Anime’, Bryce, M. (2008) ‘Another half and/or another individual: Representation of twins in manga’. Foster, D.M. (2008) ‘The otherworlds of Mizuki Shigeru mechademia’, vol 3, pp 8-28. Lawler, S. (2008) ‘Stories, Memories, Identity: Sociology Perspectives’. Rickards, M. (1999) ‘Screening Interiority: Drawing on the Animated Dreams of Satoshi Kon’s Perfect Blue’. Teloitte, P.J. (1995) ‘Replications: Robotics History of Science Fiction Films’. Walter, T. (2001), Reincarnation, Modernity and Identity’. Read More