What are the underlying thematics of Princess Mononoke? How does it ‘defamiliarise’ its historical setting, according to Napier (2005)?
Napier (2005) finds one of the main drives for this film is the war of the humans or more specifically the war between humans against the gods 'Kami'. Miyazaki trys to bring across the importance of this history when Gods were of particular importance to the Japanese culture and were once the higher power of civilisation. It also breaks down into the destructions of peace and the planet that has been caused by humans. Including the destruction of forests in which some Gods are seen to live there and also the production of metals for artillery warfare. These issues which are the main concern for causing global warming in today's time is produced in this film in its historical setting which creates an alarming issue that this problem has been ongoing even from the 14th century when this movie is set.
Other themes portrayed in Princess Mononoke is mulitculturalism. This is seen by the society's between San's people, Eboshi's people, Ashitaka's people and the Shishigami. There is so much war and tension between these groups but I gather that there is some sort of acceptance or understanding to just get on with things and not fight any more towards the end.
Princess Mononoke takes a new age look into the female role. The characters would be typically male roles but having changed them to female roles it gives a different approach a different meaning. It would also have been quite boring had the protagonists all been male. I can familiarise myself with some of these characters in there roles. San's character is like a female version of Tarzan or jungle boy brought up by wolves and Eboshi depicts a sort of 'Joan of Arc' status of a women going to battle. It is told almost like a myth or legend about a particular event or place in a historical setting. It could be seen as a familiar to the types of New Zealand mythological stories and legends like those of Maui. In which Maui pulls up the island of New Zealand out of the sea or tries to catch the sun to keep daylight.
Napier (2005) discusses that Princess Mononoke de-familiarises the historical Japanese culture in two ways “the myth of the feminine as long-suffering and supportive and the myth of the Japanese as living in harmony with nature, often expressed through a union of feminine with the natural” (p.233) I would also relate this to Maori mythological gods like that of the Earth Mother Papatuanuku who is made to be shown as caring, warmth and growth.Napier (2005) quotes Miyazaki “This is a film in which the main protagonists are those who usually do not appear on the stage of history. Instead, this is the story of the marginals of history”(p.233). Miyazaki also chooses to set the scenes during a time in Japanese history of 'high culture' and peace. This is important as it is different to any of his other works which are usually set in a fantasy world or a more westernised setting. Miyazaki has affectively made this film look like scenes from history and has brought out the messages of global warming, war and destruction of the land, of history and of the people.
I now see why this anime won the awards of "Best Picture", " Best Japanese Movie" and "Best Director" and is seen as a great work of anime as it is different to traditional works and is presenting more real life which real life issues.
References:
Napier, S. (2005). Anime: from Akira to Howl's Moving Castle. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.
It’s so good that we chose same topic, we can discuss more about it.
ReplyDeleteI agree that female characters appearance in this film is big defamiliarisation of Japanese traditional culture. As it can be seen, the main characters San, Eboshi and Moro (San’s wolf mother) are brave and smart female, and these figures are so bright. On the other hand, I can also feel their brutality; because traditionally, a female is connected with the words tender and sweet, but in this film, the mercilessness from female is more terrifying.
Jenna, I really liked how you related your post to you and New Zealand legend. This was very interesting and something I had not thought of.
ReplyDeletei also agree Elle, the mercilessness coming from a woman made it more terrifying for the woman is traditionally depicted as the mother, the nurturer and the carer. Having this role reversed was empowering to women but also made me think about ying/yang. I wonder if this view of men/women has been brought about by us, so used to what we have been taught or has been passed down to us. To be all philosophical, i wonder how the dynamic was between male and female long ago and if perhaps this view of equality is more closer to reality. That men and women balance in order to survive.
I agree that it brings to light real issues, however these are notions which we should all consider regardless of global warming etc. There are far many stories of animal extinctions due to mankinds interference for commercial gain, of environments wiped out for things like Palm Oil and of wars. Arent we all people? Weren't we all born on the same planet, which means we all have the same right to be here, be that as man, plant or animal??
Or is our greed and past conditionings so great that movies such as Princess Monokoke make us wonder for the first time? I certainly agree Jenna, that this is a great film and deserving of its accolades.
It's interesting that in Princess Monokoke women are the heros. Eboshi, San and the wolf mother Moro, they are female.As I know of Japan, it's a country that men has higher position than women.
ReplyDeletehowever, in the film, these female characters have most selfless love. That film has make women have a hero icon. So it's a most de-familiar of history setting.