If life where an anime or manga, then as much as it would be nice, it could get rather... boring after a while.
The traits of heroes in mangas now have become predictable. Many of the plot lines are the same, though it can't always be helped.
I agree with many of your points, but I also disagree with a few others. But hey, we can agree to disagree, right? That's what my English teacher always says.
Very well written essay. I really enjoyed reading it.
So so true, japan.freak. We need actual heroes in today's soceity. Like, yesterday. Many of the qualities are dying quickly, but don't give up hope. We may not have the same timing as in many anime and mangas, but a hero or a group of heroes will rise up one day. Perhaps they're looking at this right now, realizing what needs to be done. If I had to place my bets, they most likely come out of Japan. Start with rebuilding or reinforcing those values in Japan then spread like a zombie virus.. it would be so beautiful. Actually, I'm completely going off of my own bias opinion with little actual knowledge on Japan, so please forgive me ^^'.
But this is a very excellent essay, my friend. You pointed out the truth in today's bleak world and yet you still give me hope that all is not lost.
Like the others, there are some points that I don't agree with. Liek chilvary. Otaku la fae made a good point that is shouldn't be just towards women, but everyone. And not just the guys should do it. This could be counted as politically incorrect (lol), but don't tell me you wouldn't laugh if a couple was being mugged and while the guy's cowering in terror, the girl kicks the mugger's #@!% or pulls out an Uzi. XD
So, yeah... Great essay. 40 out of 2.
I do get that many people are sorta nostalgic for old world courtesy's and chilvary...but they aren't dead. They've just either become outdated and changed, or they're just not as noticeable.....One thing that you said that really bugged me though is about chivalry. You made it sound like chivalry is a totally good thing. Well, personally, I freakin' hate it. A lot. Treating a women like that is demeaning. I can see being polite. Holding a door open, pulling a chair out, walking someone to their door-those are all good, polite things to do. Common courtesy. But you do not just do it for the girls. You do it for ev-er-y-one. I, and most other girls (barring special cases) am perfectly capable of opening a door, walking home (although if you live in a dangerous place where it is not safe to walk home alone, then walking with someone else is a good idea), and pulling out my own chair. Chivalry is an old-world concept that treated girls like something fragile and like women were un-equal to men. Justice does exist; humans are just impatient creatures. And i'm gonna agree with some of the other people who posted-what you wrote as "political incorrectness" is not being political incorrect. If i called someone a racial or religious slur, than i'm being politically incorrect. Like, if someone were to call a native American and Indian. And that's not always a bad thing. Do you call a white person a white person or a caucasion (i think i spelled that wrong)?....Ok, i'm done now. Sorry, i know it sounds like i'm just dumpin on you. i'm not trying to.
I like this essay, it's very well thought-out and researched =) And I like the variety of references you made to anime, though I may not know most of them, lol.
I think the second half of your essay can spark a debate. Your evaluation of these heroic virtues seems to contain quite a number of generalisations and absolute, sweeping statements. It really depends on what kind of situation we're talking about. Personally, I think your view about some virtues like courtesy is rather narrow. Evaluations of such things should actually be quite broad and deep, but in here it is written in short paragraphs, and it only covers one point of view. But I guess I can't argue against this, because this essay is probably based on the writer's personal opinion by nature.
These virtues can each be evaluated case by case. Chivalry and courtesy depends on the self, how one is brought up, his background, personality and... whether he has self-control to resist sexual temptations, lol =P
I don't know what sort of courtesy you're talking about, but I think two fighters bowing or exchanging handshakes before or after a match is enough to express courtesy, and if you're talking about war, it doesn't make sense to stop and introduce yourself to the enemy in a chaotic battlefield. Courtesy in social interactions very well exists, and how polite someone is is again, dependant on the self and maybe also on influence from society. In places like the States (or so I've heard since I don't live there), there's frequent abuse of foul language (among youths mostly) and many people exchange them freely in daily conversation because everyone does it and it's deemed a norm. But where I live in Singapore, people will stare if you say the F-word. The Japanese, in particular, are very well-known for their courtesy and etiquette. Different places have different standards, so you may say that courtesy has degraded in certain cases but it definitely is not extinct!
As for the rest of them, I agree with you on the most part. A lot of them are commonly depicted in fiction but very rarely seen in reality today =(
Well, these are just my opinions. You may disagree but that doesn't matter =) I really enjoyed reading your article anyway, what you've written as well as all the comments other readers wrote are very insightful and enlightening ^^
I am quite familiar with this whole concept of 'harnessing emotions' for one purpose or another. Got pain? Use it to block out minor irritants. Got rage? Use it to fill you with tremendous willpower and desire. You can use any emotion to help you do almost anything. (Because I don't think rage can help you beat cancer....or can it?)
A wonderful essay that you have presented. However, I want to talk briefly about the opposite here. Anime is the common miss-direction of the American story telller.
In American Story telling a hero is basically all that you have described here. We find these heroes in anime, yes, but we also find the flawed hero.
Anime draws me because we get to see the flawed hero. We get to see a hearo that is human. Emotion is was drives a hero. Not everyone can be Superman. I am the worlds biggest Superman fan but anime still has massive appeal to me. I want to believe that as I am I can be a hero. I have doubts. I have ambition, I have the want to be better than I am. But with that said I will take Superman's powers in a second.
You know what I would do with those powers first? I would right the wrongs in my own life. Thats right, I would be selfish. I would make things amazing for me. That's why one, Superman is the greatist hero of all time, and two why I love anime.
Anime says that even with my desires, wants, needs, I can still be a hero. It says that with the basic human complex of emotion I can drive to be more.
For my case example I look to Spike Speagle of Cowboy Bebop. Spike was completely driven by his emotion for Julia. His love. He brought down the biggest crime sidicate in the future world because doing so brought vengence to his love.
The main reason Superman is Superman is beacause he doesn't want to be. He want's to be human and live like us. Its amazing what he can do but beyond that there are people like Spike and Kenshin.
Kenshin made a mistake and killed the one he loved most. He spent the rest of his life trying to make up for it. Anime teaches us to harnesss our emotions and use them for good. They are beyond chivalrous and courtyous. They are human used for the betterment of others.
Thank you for the article but these are my thoughts. The flawed hero is the most relatable and them most real. They used evil to drive them to good. Like Kenshin or Spike. Vengence can be used to better ones self.
Great essay, great analysis of anime archetypes. However, I cannot say that I actually like the fact that these traits are present in the heroes of anime, manga, and just about every other form of entertainment. They've become clichés. Think about it: the only difference between Naruto and Goku is that one is a ninja and one is an alien. Nearly all heroes are interchangeable. They go through the same trials, establish the same relationships with the same stereotypes, and always end up better because of it. The only thing that changes are the minor details such as age and appearance and the setting. There are very few exceptions to this rule, and that, to me, is very depressing.
Also, your analysis of the virtues as they exist in our society now reveals an extremely black-and-white worldview. First, I’d like to address a personal pet peeve of mine. Chivalry never, ever actually existed. It is an artificial construct invented by the likes of Walt Disney and the Brothers Grimm. The concept of “the knight in shining armor” is a lie. As you said yourself, this is the age of sexual liberty, not the age of betrothals and courting rituals and prima nocta, so it is expected that people will choose who they want, not who their parents choose for them. That bit about good looks and cars makes you sound jaded.
I get the feeling you don’t really know what being politically correct means. Being PC means referring to someone as African-American instead of black, and other things along those lines. It has nothing to do with standing up to the government. At all.
Saying that nobility of purpose is dead and gone is something that also gets my goat. First of all, you’d have to assume that there is one objective, irrefutable truth. That is not and will never be the case. What is noble in one culture is despicable in another and vice versa. There is no nobility, and there never was.
Courtesy exists. It exists in the places it should: restaurants, stores, city streets, and family gatherings; not on battlefields. It is neither practical nor smart to announce one’s name to the enemy in the heat of guerilla warfare, sign of faith or not. It’s just not possible to tell the enemy your name when running an air raid. All things considered, courtesy as you described it is a very dated and naïve concept. Normal courtesy is great though.
Justice also doesn’t exist, and never did. Minorities have always been screwed over for the sake of the ruling majority. As such, what is just to one may be unjust to another. Once again, there is no objective truth.
“Our society may be said to be encouraging acts of cruelty with legal approbation.” Where do you live, Darfur? And if you live in America or Europe, how does society encourage legal acts of cruelty? I don’t see that at all. An explanation would be much appreciated.
I agree with you on the position of fidelity, tenacity, and sensibility in our society. It’s just that, reading what you wrote regarding everything else, you sound rather bitter. You sound like you’re awaiting an anime hero to come and sweep you off your feet. No such people exist, and that’s why I dislike heroes such as Naruto and Ichigo and Edward Elrich. They are conglomerates of stereotypically “good” virtues. They may have flaws, but these are always overcome through some great quest.
I’m not trying to be mean, I just like a good debate
First I must say that I enjoy being politically incorrect. Politically incorrect people are quite effective at making blunt statements, and in an age where everybody’s making cutting remarks about each other, blunt statements are a nice relief.
Second, chivalry and courtesy are not dead, but instead are largely limited to their more subtle aspects. Take me, for example. I can be a real jackass when I open my mouth, but usually not so in my actions. I put my dishes away after dinner, if someone’s behind me, I’ll keep the door open for them (but only if I’m going through it as well, mind you), I look away when someone’s typing in private information, when I’m talking to a senior/superior and I cannot remember their name, I’ll call them by ma’am or sir, and the like. Modern courtesy and chivalry, if you will.
Third, that stuff about fighters not talking to each other anymore…..either
a)The fighters already know each other’s names
b)there’s no time for introduction
If the situation is b), it’s because combat has evolved to a point where there is no longer time for courtesy outside of ceremonial combat. Not saying that soldiers don’t try to make a name for themselves. Ever since WWI, pilots of both fighters and bombers have put marks on their planes indicating how many planes they have shot down/cities they have bombed, the same way warriors of the past carried around trinkets/severed heads. Did the Red Baron not have a distinctive plane? Many soldiers will also name their tanks/weapons. The point is, even if it’s only bragging or showing off, warriors still introduce themselves to that degree.
Fourth, yes, nobility is a much abused concept. But you must admit, there are still people out there who use it without abusing it.
Finally, great article, but you’re talking like this is animanga exclusive. This is a reflection of heroes from virtually every culture.
mewmewpudding
Otaku Eternal | Posted 11/19/08 | Reply
If life where an anime or manga, then as much as it would be nice, it could get rather... boring after a while.
The traits of heroes in mangas now have become predictable. Many of the plot lines are the same, though it can't always be helped.
I agree with many of your points, but I also disagree with a few others. But hey, we can agree to disagree, right? That's what my English teacher always says.
Very well written essay. I really enjoyed reading it.
Limpingfury
Otakuite | Posted 11/15/08 | Reply
So so true, japan.freak. We need actual heroes in today's soceity. Like, yesterday. Many of the qualities are dying quickly, but don't give up hope. We may not have the same timing as in many anime and mangas, but a hero or a group of heroes will rise up one day. Perhaps they're looking at this right now, realizing what needs to be done. If I had to place my bets, they most likely come out of Japan. Start with rebuilding or reinforcing those values in Japan then spread like a zombie virus.. it would be so beautiful. Actually, I'm completely going off of my own bias opinion with little actual knowledge on Japan, so please forgive me ^^'.
But this is a very excellent essay, my friend. You pointed out the truth in today's bleak world and yet you still give me hope that all is not lost.
Like the others, there are some points that I don't agree with. Liek chilvary. Otaku la fae made a good point that is shouldn't be just towards women, but everyone. And not just the guys should do it. This could be counted as politically incorrect (lol), but don't tell me you wouldn't laugh if a couple was being mugged and while the guy's cowering in terror, the girl kicks the mugger's #@!% or pulls out an Uzi. XD
So, yeah... Great essay. 40 out of 2.
otaku le fae
Otakuite++ | Posted 11/15/08 | Reply
I do get that many people are sorta nostalgic for old world courtesy's and chilvary...but they aren't dead. They've just either become outdated and changed, or they're just not as noticeable.....One thing that you said that really bugged me though is about chivalry. You made it sound like chivalry is a totally good thing. Well, personally, I freakin' hate it. A lot. Treating a women like that is demeaning. I can see being polite. Holding a door open, pulling a chair out, walking someone to their door-those are all good, polite things to do. Common courtesy. But you do not just do it for the girls. You do it for ev-er-y-one. I, and most other girls (barring special cases) am perfectly capable of opening a door, walking home (although if you live in a dangerous place where it is not safe to walk home alone, then walking with someone else is a good idea), and pulling out my own chair. Chivalry is an old-world concept that treated girls like something fragile and like women were un-equal to men. Justice does exist; humans are just impatient creatures. And i'm gonna agree with some of the other people who posted-what you wrote as "political incorrectness" is not being political incorrect. If i called someone a racial or religious slur, than i'm being politically incorrect. Like, if someone were to call a native American and Indian. And that's not always a bad thing. Do you call a white person a white person or a caucasion (i think i spelled that wrong)?....Ok, i'm done now. Sorry, i know it sounds like i'm just dumpin on you. i'm not trying to.
Mizukage
Otaku Legend | Posted 11/15/08 | Reply
I like this essay, it's very well thought-out and researched =) And I like the variety of references you made to anime, though I may not know most of them, lol.
I think the second half of your essay can spark a debate. Your evaluation of these heroic virtues seems to contain quite a number of generalisations and absolute, sweeping statements. It really depends on what kind of situation we're talking about. Personally, I think your view about some virtues like courtesy is rather narrow. Evaluations of such things should actually be quite broad and deep, but in here it is written in short paragraphs, and it only covers one point of view. But I guess I can't argue against this, because this essay is probably based on the writer's personal opinion by nature.
These virtues can each be evaluated case by case. Chivalry and courtesy depends on the self, how one is brought up, his background, personality and... whether he has self-control to resist sexual temptations, lol =P
I don't know what sort of courtesy you're talking about, but I think two fighters bowing or exchanging handshakes before or after a match is enough to express courtesy, and if you're talking about war, it doesn't make sense to stop and introduce yourself to the enemy in a chaotic battlefield. Courtesy in social interactions very well exists, and how polite someone is is again, dependant on the self and maybe also on influence from society. In places like the States (or so I've heard since I don't live there), there's frequent abuse of foul language (among youths mostly) and many people exchange them freely in daily conversation because everyone does it and it's deemed a norm. But where I live in Singapore, people will stare if you say the F-word. The Japanese, in particular, are very well-known for their courtesy and etiquette. Different places have different standards, so you may say that courtesy has degraded in certain cases but it definitely is not extinct!
As for the rest of them, I agree with you on the most part. A lot of them are commonly depicted in fiction but very rarely seen in reality today =(
Well, these are just my opinions. You may disagree but that doesn't matter =) I really enjoyed reading your article anyway, what you've written as well as all the comments other readers wrote are very insightful and enlightening ^^
*favs*
Markus wolfe
Grand Otaku | Posted 11/14/08 | Reply
I am quite familiar with this whole concept of 'harnessing emotions' for one purpose or another. Got pain? Use it to block out minor irritants. Got rage? Use it to fill you with tremendous willpower and desire. You can use any emotion to help you do almost anything. (Because I don't think rage can help you beat cancer....or can it?)
spacecowboytv
Otaku Eternal | Posted 11/14/08 | Reply
A wonderful essay that you have presented. However, I want to talk briefly about the opposite here. Anime is the common miss-direction of the American story telller.
In American Story telling a hero is basically all that you have described here. We find these heroes in anime, yes, but we also find the flawed hero.
Anime draws me because we get to see the flawed hero. We get to see a hearo that is human. Emotion is was drives a hero. Not everyone can be Superman. I am the worlds biggest Superman fan but anime still has massive appeal to me. I want to believe that as I am I can be a hero. I have doubts. I have ambition, I have the want to be better than I am. But with that said I will take Superman's powers in a second.
You know what I would do with those powers first? I would right the wrongs in my own life. Thats right, I would be selfish. I would make things amazing for me. That's why one, Superman is the greatist hero of all time, and two why I love anime.
Anime says that even with my desires, wants, needs, I can still be a hero. It says that with the basic human complex of emotion I can drive to be more.
For my case example I look to Spike Speagle of Cowboy Bebop. Spike was completely driven by his emotion for Julia. His love. He brought down the biggest crime sidicate in the future world because doing so brought vengence to his love.
The main reason Superman is Superman is beacause he doesn't want to be. He want's to be human and live like us. Its amazing what he can do but beyond that there are people like Spike and Kenshin.
Kenshin made a mistake and killed the one he loved most. He spent the rest of his life trying to make up for it. Anime teaches us to harnesss our emotions and use them for good. They are beyond chivalrous and courtyous. They are human used for the betterment of others.
Thank you for the article but these are my thoughts. The flawed hero is the most relatable and them most real. They used evil to drive them to good. Like Kenshin or Spike. Vengence can be used to better ones self.
Cezieni
Otakuite++ | Posted 11/13/08 | Reply
Great essay, great analysis of anime archetypes. However, I cannot say that I actually like the fact that these traits are present in the heroes of anime, manga, and just about every other form of entertainment. They've become clichés. Think about it: the only difference between Naruto and Goku is that one is a ninja and one is an alien. Nearly all heroes are interchangeable. They go through the same trials, establish the same relationships with the same stereotypes, and always end up better because of it. The only thing that changes are the minor details such as age and appearance and the setting. There are very few exceptions to this rule, and that, to me, is very depressing.
Also, your analysis of the virtues as they exist in our society now reveals an extremely black-and-white worldview. First, I’d like to address a personal pet peeve of mine. Chivalry never, ever actually existed. It is an artificial construct invented by the likes of Walt Disney and the Brothers Grimm. The concept of “the knight in shining armor” is a lie. As you said yourself, this is the age of sexual liberty, not the age of betrothals and courting rituals and prima nocta, so it is expected that people will choose who they want, not who their parents choose for them. That bit about good looks and cars makes you sound jaded.
I get the feeling you don’t really know what being politically correct means. Being PC means referring to someone as African-American instead of black, and other things along those lines. It has nothing to do with standing up to the government. At all.
Saying that nobility of purpose is dead and gone is something that also gets my goat. First of all, you’d have to assume that there is one objective, irrefutable truth. That is not and will never be the case. What is noble in one culture is despicable in another and vice versa. There is no nobility, and there never was.
Courtesy exists. It exists in the places it should: restaurants, stores, city streets, and family gatherings; not on battlefields. It is neither practical nor smart to announce one’s name to the enemy in the heat of guerilla warfare, sign of faith or not. It’s just not possible to tell the enemy your name when running an air raid. All things considered, courtesy as you described it is a very dated and naïve concept. Normal courtesy is great though.
Justice also doesn’t exist, and never did. Minorities have always been screwed over for the sake of the ruling majority. As such, what is just to one may be unjust to another. Once again, there is no objective truth.
“Our society may be said to be encouraging acts of cruelty with legal approbation.” Where do you live, Darfur? And if you live in America or Europe, how does society encourage legal acts of cruelty? I don’t see that at all. An explanation would be much appreciated.
I agree with you on the position of fidelity, tenacity, and sensibility in our society. It’s just that, reading what you wrote regarding everything else, you sound rather bitter. You sound like you’re awaiting an anime hero to come and sweep you off your feet. No such people exist, and that’s why I dislike heroes such as Naruto and Ichigo and Edward Elrich. They are conglomerates of stereotypically “good” virtues. They may have flaws, but these are always overcome through some great quest.
I’m not trying to be mean, I just like a good debate
Markus wolfe
Grand Otaku | Posted 11/13/08 | Reply
First I must say that I enjoy being politically incorrect. Politically incorrect people are quite effective at making blunt statements, and in an age where everybody’s making cutting remarks about each other, blunt statements are a nice relief.
Second, chivalry and courtesy are not dead, but instead are largely limited to their more subtle aspects. Take me, for example. I can be a real jackass when I open my mouth, but usually not so in my actions. I put my dishes away after dinner, if someone’s behind me, I’ll keep the door open for them (but only if I’m going through it as well, mind you), I look away when someone’s typing in private information, when I’m talking to a senior/superior and I cannot remember their name, I’ll call them by ma’am or sir, and the like. Modern courtesy and chivalry, if you will.
Third, that stuff about fighters not talking to each other anymore…..either
a)The fighters already know each other’s names
b)there’s no time for introduction
If the situation is b), it’s because combat has evolved to a point where there is no longer time for courtesy outside of ceremonial combat. Not saying that soldiers don’t try to make a name for themselves. Ever since WWI, pilots of both fighters and bombers have put marks on their planes indicating how many planes they have shot down/cities they have bombed, the same way warriors of the past carried around trinkets/severed heads. Did the Red Baron not have a distinctive plane? Many soldiers will also name their tanks/weapons. The point is, even if it’s only bragging or showing off, warriors still introduce themselves to that degree.
Fourth, yes, nobility is a much abused concept. But you must admit, there are still people out there who use it without abusing it.
Finally, great article, but you’re talking like this is animanga exclusive. This is a reflection of heroes from virtually every culture.
Anoel
Otakuite++ | Posted 11/13/08 | Reply
So then, no anime hero's for us. That's rather saddening... But excellent essay none the less.
Time always spirals, and here I am, stuck in the wrong sprial.