Week 10: Manga

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't really looking forward to this week. Manga has always been by far the form of comics I am most familiar with, which I know is not uncommon for girls my age in this decade. When I was in middle school my mom would take me to the bookstore on Friday afternoons as a treat to pick up the next volume of Fruits Basket, Fullmetal Alchemist, or whatever I was into, for me to enjoy over the weekend. All my little thirteen year old friends loved manga. We'd share volumes with each other on the train headed to and from school. However, that was years ago and I rarely have the time or opportunity to read these comics anymore, so its safe to say this week's topic was very nostalgic and fun for me.

For class I chose to read volume one of Ranma 1/2 by Rumiko Takahashi. I was somewhat familiar with her work beforehand, having seen a few episodes of the anime adaptation of Inuyasha on Adult Swim. I found this series to be really appealing, and I could see myself reading another volume here and there just to pass some time. All of the characters were constantly rude to each other in that charming manga way, where you know they'll begrudgingly start to care as the series goes on. The art style was cute and simple, and I found all the character designs and outfits to be very pleasing. However, I know these praises to be true of all of Rumiko's major works. Probably why she has been such a successful creator!

Getting to see some of Summer Wars in class was great! It was cool and different to look at something so recent, as most of the films we have watched were made before my time. I have seen the whole film, and I must say its one of my favorites in terms of anime. Its director, Mamoru Hosoda, also made what may be my number one (yes, even above the Ghiblis) Wolf Children. I would recommend any of his works to someone who loves animation. Overall, I have to admit this was my favorite class of the semester, and it definitely did something to rekindle my love of manga.

Week 9: A Wide World of Comics

I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed reading some of the Blacksad stories this week. When I randomly clicked on the title off of the course resource list, I was immediately deterred by the whole "anthropomorphic animals" thing, having come to associate those images with a more... deviant side of internet culture (which was, hilariously, even mentioned by our professor in class). However, I couldn't deny that the art style was certainly beautiful, with expressive characters and full color rendering. That alone was enough for me to give Blacksad a try.

I found the story "Amarillo" to be very engaging, and I was already engrossed after only a few pages. For me, the characters were the most appealing part. Despite being short story, there is a very large cast, and the readers are able to grasp the personality of each new character in as little as a single drawing. We come to care for each of them, even some of those presented as antagonists to the main character. I loved the wide variety of animals used in the story too, including lions, hyenas, buffalo, penguins, koalas, and so much more. Each animal fits their character perfectly, yet often in unexpected ways. Can a pink flamingo be a hardened criminal? Yes, and it actually works really well.

It is hard to imagine that a story taking place in the United States, and playing off of very specific American archetypes could be written by two Spanish authors, Juan Canales and Juanjo Guarnido, for a French audience. If I had not known this beforehand, I would have never even suspected it. I supposed that this just goes to show that comics are an extremely universal form of media, that can be appreciated by nearly anyone around the world. I would recommend Blacksad to anyone who is interested in more adult-oriented comics. The stories are thrilling and the art is gorgeous. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read it this week.

Week 8: Stereotype and Representation

This week our class discussed the use of stereotypes in comics and video games. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of poor or even offensive representation of marginalized groups in these types of media. Characters are reduced to often inaccurate and overused cliches and tropes, and are rarely given much development beyond that. Fortunately, this form of discrimination is much less brazen these days than it has been in previous years, however to say that it is just a problem of the past would be very untrue. There is still a long way to go in eradicating these negative images.

I connected really well with the recommended Anita Sarkeesian videos addressing the objectification of women in video games. She was able to put into words many of the problems I was aware of, but had trouble solidifying in my mind. I found that some of her most powerful points, when addressing the use of the "Damsel in Distress" trope were that this plot element reduces women to prizes or rewards; it changes their danger from an event in their stories to an obstacle in the male hero's; and it perpetuates the idea that women are possessions of men. Another important point she made, and one that her critiques seem to somehow miss, is that it is entirely possible to enjoy a game or other piece of media, while simultaneously being able to look at its flaws. Just because something is not perfect, or could potentially be improved upon, does not automatically make it bad.

Personally, I do not feel as if I have been negatively affected by stereotypes thus far in my life. At least not to any significant degree. But I am also aware that the older I get, and the more I move into the professional world, the higher the chances of this happening are. The decision to speak out against sexism in the gaming or comic industry is a difficult one, as so many of the women who have are harassed and threatened to staggering degrees. I only hope that I am able to be true to my own morals and beliefs, and take advantage of opportunities to make a positive difference during my professional career.