week six [rhian]

According to Napier, how does this anime (Mononoke) problematise traditional (or conservative) constructions of gender, class and race?


Princess Mononoke "undermines the myths of traditional Japanese identitiy" and gives a completely new one to go by. This involves creating completely new social constructions: gender, class and race. Miyazaki does this in a multitude of ways.


"Subversion and defamiliarisation" - Napier claims that this is quite possibly the most important strategy Miyazaki uses to reinvent the social constructions in traditional Japan. The defamiliarisation is of two important iconological motifs in Japan's history: that of females' traditional gender roles "supportive" and the like, as well as Japan's respect for nature. Mononoke challenges all of the Japanese conventions that have survived for years, running the state under the traditional ideals that have stemmed from its long history.


Miyazaki wrote "this is the story of the marginals of history." He aimed to bring the less known characters of tradition to the forefront and to shine a spotlight on them to tell their tale and give the ma sort of idol stature. These characters he familiarises with are non-conventional protagnoists such as "women, outcasts and non-Yamato (nonethnic Japanese)." With Mononoke, Hiyazaki was able to challenge the social constructions Japan stands by, by creating new heroes and heroines of the past. It makes for a less truthful account and a more interesting one.


"Princess Mononoke" does not aim to glorify the history or traditional ideals that is present throughout the scenes, but it creates a sense of uncertainty and problematic issues with the past that is usually a safe conventional bet in Japanese society. Miyazaki also influences the attitudes toward the traditional ideals through this movie, not as a serious, life changing opinion, but just in the movie.


Despite the problematic changing of traditional mythology in "Princess Mononoke" with the new gender roles, class structure and race inclusion, this is actually what draws the audience in because of it's originality and threshold breaking ideals. So instead of a negative view on the adaptations of conventions Miyazki has created, the new social constructions actually boosts Mononoke's popularity.