Thursday, July 19, 2018

So to the Question "Is anime / manga sexist"

So to the question "Is Anime / Manga Sexist."




That’s like asking.
Are Humans Sexist.

The answer really depends on who your asking what who your asking about.
Can anime/manga be sexist? Yes.
Is it a issue in some anime/manga? Yes.
But if your asking if Anime/Manga is sexist as a rule? My answer would be two fold.
#1: No more so then human society in general is.
#2: You can absolutely find Anime/Manga that is at the very least, less sexist then every day life.

Notes.
In a lot of ways Anime / Manga / Comic books so on and so forth. Are less sexist in a lot of ways.
In anime you can find stories where women fill pretty much every traditionally male role. (And one’s where guys fill female roles)
There is also a great discussion to be had about double direction sexism.
That is to say Anime/Manga that can be said to be sexist towards men.
It would be better to say.

Anime/Manga/Comics are Very TROPE HEAVY.
So you will almost always see at least one example of a character type in a anime.

Examples time.
My Hero Academia. Boku no Hīrō Akademia.
So let’s just address a few things right away. I love this show, so I’m a little defensive, that however wont stop me from strait up tearing into in places.
So right off the bat. Does this show have issues with women? I agrue no.
Does this show have issues with over sexulization? Yes… But..
The attractive female cast is also in a show with a cast of attractive males.
Watch the show for any amount of time and you tend to find something out.. There is a good bit of (Not actually sleazy) Fan Service in this show… for any sexual preference.
There is a lot of fan service of the male cast without shirts on. And all the guys are physical fit and mostly attractive.
  • That is because the shows writer knew that (Like a lot of other shows/Manga) That female readers now out number male readers in Japan.

The show actually represent a pretty natural group of females by Japanese standards. That is to say they are not all built like Super Models. They don’t all have big boobs. There not all hyper sexulized. There uniforms are pretty standard.
Does the show have times where it Sexulized the females… oh ya. But it does it to the guys to.

Now if you wanted to make argument for it being some what sexist. You actually look at what the Females DO in the story.
#1: If you where to make a list of the “Main Characters” of the show. you would need to include at least FOUR characters to even have a chance to get a female in the list. Maybe five.
Midoria, Bakugo, Totaroki, Uraraka, Idia.
Note about male/female ratio: There are 20 members of class 1A. There are 6 females. Which means 30% of the class is female. (Can might be able to make a argument that THIS is kind of sexist) But that would require ignoring the point that we simply don’t know what the male/female ratio on hero’s is. It may be a profession like Police, FireFighters. This maybe high for all we know. That is more discussion for society then the show.
In the sports festival out of the 16 Finalists to make it into the First round. 5 Where female. 5 out of 16. So about 30% just like Class 1A. And 5 of the four girls win there rounds.
Meaning that 2 of the 8 Quarter Finalists are female. That’s 25% only slightly lower and within statistical probability.
but… Both females lose in the Quarter finals.
The Semi-Finals and Final are totally devoid of Females. Which brings us to the ultimate problem/point/argument.
Look at the Characters that are the most powerful in the show…
None of them are female.
If you look at the females in class A1/1B. And consider there powers. Then look at the Males in 1A/1B… The females never stood a chance.

That’s because the female readers are more into the story then the fights. The male readers are more into the fights then the female readers. So its better marketing to have the males in the final. Not Openly are meaningfully Sexist. But still kind of passively sexist.
But at the same time. There are great examples of anime that side step this in other ways.
There are anime that have great powerful and well written female characters. (And may or may not mess that up with fan service)

So the simple answer is.
Yes Anime/Manga Can be Sexist.
They can also be great examples of how to tell stories and not be Sexist.

Adding onto the answer two other examples that just hit me.

Number one.
The works of Hayao Miyazaki
Miyazaki is basically the poster child for the Feminist movement in Japan.
It’s actually hard to find a Miyazaki work that can even be argued on in this regard. (Lupin is about it, and even that… there is a real argument that Fujiko is almost a subversion of the sexulization of woman)
Almost every Miyazaki movie has a female lead.
There (with the exception of Fujiko Mine) Never Sexulized.
In the movies with romantic tones there always portrayed as equals in the relationship.
Seriously, the guy could be used as a example of how to make female lead movies.

To a lesser extent but still worth mentioning
Matsumoto is a interesting study.
The females in his works are not out and out sexulized, but they are much more stylized. There all tall, slender very feminine… But at the same time EVERYTHING In his works is stylized. This is a guy who makes space ships look like battleships, sailing ship and trains.
Being overly stylized IS his style.
And most of his leads are male.
But the female characters in his stories are always treated with a lot of respect. There just a likely to be used as narrative devices as men are.
Women in Refrigerators - TV Tropes Is not so much a thing in his works as “Loved one’s in refrigerators” are.

Even Akira Toriyama is worth mentioning in this list….
And some people actually argue he’s openly sexist.
This is a person who almost never puts a actual door mat female character in his story.
His first hit anime had a female lead who was the strongest character in the story and never sexulized at all. (She was a child robot to be fair)
But take Dragon ball.
There is a argument that the pervy humor in Dragonball is a issue.
There is a argument that Toriyama (Until resently) never put a really truly strong female into a story.
There is a argument that when he does have a strong female (Not just physically) he makes them a wife/mother.
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But this ignores a lot of things and or imply a lot of things.
Bulma:
While it is 100% true that in Dragon ball (The first series) There where a lot of perv jokes at Bulma’s expense. They where.. how should I put it. Purposefully bad pervy jokes.
She never put up with them. The pervs never got what they wanted.
She’s the smartest person in the show.
She never puts up with anyone’s crap. And she demands respect from even the strongest beings in the Universe.
The concept that her getting married and having a child some how “Tames her” Or makes her weakens. I would argue is actually a deeply sexist concept. It’s basically saying “Mothers are useless for anything but mothering. they can’t possible contribute anymore.” Bulma even after getting married is one of the most useful people in the show.
And past the first show (And even later in that show) She’s basically never sexulized. And even in the first show it was normal one in a way that was actually poking fun at other Shonin Anime that did this. (Dragon Ball was after all first made as a joke anime/manga that makes fun of other Shonin)
ChiChi.
Ya… ChiChi Takes a LOT OF CRAP in DragonBall.
But She’s still actually one of the strongest people on earth.
She’s still a strong willed woman who takes little crap from anyone.
Never actually sexulized…
Videl:
Again being a mother does not take away that Videl is a strong women and puts up with no crap.
And the argument that she’s been “domesticated” can actually be leveld a Gohan as well. Both of them picked to live a more normal life and raise a child.
Never actually sexulized.
18
Oh boy where to start.
18 is not only massively strong when we first run into her. (Stronger then any male in the main cast) She delivers one of the most savage beatings in the shows history to one of the then two main characters.
And its never once mentioned that vegeta got beaten by a woman. The cast and show never pull the card of having some one down play or underestimate her because she is female.
Even later in the show she’s still strong then a lot of the main cast. She’s still useful and she is still one of the most competent people in the cast.
And again, Krillian is actually just as (If not more so) Domesticated by the act of having a child with 18 then she is.
And again.. Never Sexulized.
Some of Toriyama’s work can be questioned at times. (Dragon Ball more then DBZ/DBS)
Dragon Quest at times. (To be fair that’s his art, and you deliver what you are paid for)

Friday, June 8, 2018

Hay... Let's Cash a live Action Overwatch movie? Got the ideal behind this? Good... Starting off with Support. Because Support does not get enough love.

Shohreh Aghdashloo as Ana.
Related imageIf you have played Destiny you will recognize her voice. Great Acting skills to boot.

Emily Browning as Brigitte
Image result for emily browningThis is a hard one because Brigitte is rather tall... in that armor, but at the same time we have no ideal how tall she actually is. But Browning is rather short. Over all I still think its a good pick.

Chadwick Boseman as Lucio.
Chadwick Boseman
Again the only issue here is that Boseman is a bit tall for the part, but only a little.

Tilda Swinton  Moira.
Image result for tilda swinton
Basically Moira is a female david bowie.. So basically Tilda Swinton.. Both of who I love so much.

Margot Robbie as Mercy.
Image result for margot robbie
Look I think we can all agree that we need more Margot Robbie AND Mercy in our lives. So This is a win win, no one will be mad at this. And if they are.. No healing for them.

Anushka Sharma as Symmetra.
Image result for Anushka SharmaAgain a great actress. (And I hav a weakness for both the actress and the character)

Sir Ben Kingsley as Zenyatta....

Image result for ben kingsleyThis is a voice acting role of coarse but still. Can't go wrong with Kingsley.
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Well on to the Tanks. Because after the healer tanks are the most important people on the field.

Gwendoline Christie As Zarya
Image result for gwendoline christie heightA lot of people have pointed this one out. She's 6'3" After all and can act.

Crispin Freeman as Winston.
I Mean there is no real reason to change this after all.

Jackblack in a fat suit as Roadhog.
I just think this would be fun.

Jamie Chung as D.Va.
Image result for Jamie Chung
Chung is adorable and upbeat. D.Va Is Adorable and Upbeat.... Win win.

Sir Anthony Hoppkins as Reinherdt.
Image result for Anthony Hopkins
Again a Armor Issue Character. But over all Hoppkins always delivers.
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Defense Defense Defense...

Scarlett Johansson as Widowmaker...
Image result for scarlett johansson
Look I'm a simple man I just want Johansson in that body suit....

Peter Dinklage as TorbJorn.
Image result for peter dinklage
You know the odd thing about this and Christie is? I'm not even a fan of GoT.

Jenna Ushkowitz As Mei.
Image result for Jenna Ushkowitz
Again not actually a fan of Glee this is just to good to pass up.

jared leto as Junkrat.

I really want to make a note that I'm not a fan of Leto... But I'm also not a fan of Junkrat.
Side Note: Jai Courtnet is pretty good also.

Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo.
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ken watanabe as Genji.
Both of these actors are great. One looks the part and the other has a great voice. So ya...

RON MOTHERFUCKING PEARLMAN... As Reaper.
Image result for ron perlmanLook every movie ever should have Ron in it.. Simple as that.


Dwayne the Rock Johnson as Doomfist.

Matthew Mercer as Mcree....
This is kind of cheating, but honestly there is no reason to not use mercer.

josh brolin as Soldier 76.

Christine Solomon as Pharah.

Image result for Christine Solomon

Giselle Itie as Sombra.

And.... Drum Roll while playing god save the queen while eating a English Breakfast and dinking tea.

Daisy Ridley as Tracer.
Image result for daisy ridley as tracer
In all seriousness I will fight you over this last pick. There is no down side to this pick. I get more Ridley and shes basically perfect for the part. To be honest, she should have done the voice to start with.

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Sunday, April 30, 2017

William Moore
William Moore, former Instructor at Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications (2015-2017)



Both. But for different reason.

Here is a simple example.
Look at Russian and then look at all the nations that boarder it..
What do you get? A LOT Of nations that are afraid of Russia.. Many of them want to join NATO for protection from Russia. Some increased there defense spending just because of Russia.
Now look at the USA…
Canada.. Good friends. (Even if Trump is being a jerk to them at the moment)
Mexico.. Friends for the most part. (Even if relations are stressed at time)
Simply put. The USA has some tough relations whit the nations around it. but they are not afraid of the USA. Even Cuba more or less got over the fear of American Invasion.

So from the perspective of some one showing up and takeing stuff form you? Or threatening you with nuclear missile attack in a vaid way.
Russia 100%.
Russia is historically kind of a bully..
There are some reasons for that mind you but its true.

The USA on the other hands… wow..
OK so here is the problem.
The United States more then any Nation in the world has the largest concentration of power in history.
To the point that it’s actually destabilizing the world to a large extent.
If your doing something the USA does not like. And they tell you to stop… What do you do to counter it? Its really hard actually…
The USA is so powerful that most nations know beyond a shadow of a dought that they would lose a military conflict quickly and badly. And that’s considering that the USA is even “nice” In a war.
In total war.. the USA would practically be like a alien invasion to most nations there would literally be nothing they could do.
So how do you counter that.
Well Nuclear Weapons is one way…
Why do you think North Korea has them?
Simple: Because as long as they have them the USA can’t invade them. Because all there bluster about there military? Nothing.
If the USA didn’t care that South Korea would get shelled and Maybe Nuked. That Japan might get hit with a nuke. The USA Could wipe North Korea out in a matter of days. (Hours for a lot of parts of a war)
And say Russia and China don’t like it? Well unless they want to use Nukes themselves. (Which they don’t) It does not matter…
China and Russia would sit back and let the USA steam role North Korea.
The entire North Korean game relied on the fact that the USA DOES ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT ITS ALLIES.
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How else do you fight this super powerful nation?
Terrorism… Yep. Its called Asymmetrical Warfare.
War against a foe you know you can not out power.
And the thing is… Terrorism can’t work in this case ether.
What has it really don’t to the USA.. nothing really.

In a interpersonal way. Russia is more dangerous.
In a “Big picture” way. The Simple fact that the USA is so powerful is a big issue. The rest of the world has to figure out how to even live in a world where this is the case…. And I’m not really sure that they can. Or the USA can for that matter.
Its a very interesting if not bothersome situation….

Wednesday, November 30, 2016