Member
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2018
- Messages
- 310
I've been about 10 years reading manga now. And still, after 10 years, I feel interested in reading many more, getting to know it better, appreciating a fine stroke, a nice expression, a good background or a memorable character.
And many reasons there are apart from pure routine that makes me come back for more, but recently, I've realized about one particular aspect that I find lacking in any other of the arts I've experienced as of yet, rooted in Japanese culture, and that's the respect to its characters.
It shows in the very page of the Ghibli Museum, a statement by Miyazaki. which says that "children will be treated as adults", in ex. "children deserve the same respect and the same duties as adults", an actual motive in many Miyazaki movies. But it also appears in many manga, when it features a silent child, an aggressive one or a melancholic one. And then, the respect shown to that character, like a recognition that everyone goes about life in his or her own way, and that you shall not rectify it more than the social norm expects to (admittedly very strictly done in those cases, but to be expected with such a defined view of society).
In a similar fashion, I recently read about two characters arguing and the first let the other almost verbually abuse of him to calm herself down, as if understanding that such an exchange is no more than an outburst. That human relationships are fleeting and changing, and that everyone should be allowed their time to unrestrain their true thoughts.
I love this when I see it, so much this may be seen as a love letter to the medium. I've expressed it in my own terms and not the japanese ones, by the way.
Anyway, what's that only manga achieves for you? Wanna hear.
And many reasons there are apart from pure routine that makes me come back for more, but recently, I've realized about one particular aspect that I find lacking in any other of the arts I've experienced as of yet, rooted in Japanese culture, and that's the respect to its characters.
It shows in the very page of the Ghibli Museum, a statement by Miyazaki. which says that "children will be treated as adults", in ex. "children deserve the same respect and the same duties as adults", an actual motive in many Miyazaki movies. But it also appears in many manga, when it features a silent child, an aggressive one or a melancholic one. And then, the respect shown to that character, like a recognition that everyone goes about life in his or her own way, and that you shall not rectify it more than the social norm expects to (admittedly very strictly done in those cases, but to be expected with such a defined view of society).
In a similar fashion, I recently read about two characters arguing and the first let the other almost verbually abuse of him to calm herself down, as if understanding that such an exchange is no more than an outburst. That human relationships are fleeting and changing, and that everyone should be allowed their time to unrestrain their true thoughts.
I love this when I see it, so much this may be seen as a love letter to the medium. I've expressed it in my own terms and not the japanese ones, by the way.
Anyway, what's that only manga achieves for you? Wanna hear.