week 6

God – man+ woman

From the scene when San and Ishitaka were lifting and holding the God of nature’s head to return, and when the God takes their offer, his head I thought the scene describes the unity of a man and a woman who can become one to overcome problems. Back in the past, both east and west societies, men have dominated in and out of their house. Despite of the background history of the film which was medieval era when people think women should stay at home raise children and do housework while men go out and make money, this animation has defamiliarized and changed image of Japanese traditional female to active. In this film, women were working in ironwork, commanding men what to do and shooting rifles and even kill the God. However what I concern about this defamiliarzation is people who do not know Japanese culture would misunderstand traditional Japanese women roles in that time. People would think Japan had modernized women's social position as this film is not based on an actual historical event.

Human vs human

The history of human tells us, there were many wars and there are still. The force of Lady Eboshi and the emperor’s forces had battles for the ironwork.

Disaster + nature vs human + greed

As a result of destroying environment, people are having a hard time because of natural disasters. for instance, Japan was hit by a number of devastating natural disasters in recent year. In the film, a guy from emperor's side wearing strange but traditional wooden shoes were trying to take the head of the god of nature to have the power of god to develop production of the country by cutting and destroying forests.

Destroy vs new life

it is like a cycle that humans destroy the nature to develop and natural disaster occur and it ruins what human have established. Naturally no matter how human's have high technology, men surrendered to the nature

There are many underlying thematics of Princess Mononoke, but as a viewer or audience we have different interpretations of what we believe to be the themes in this anime. This film has many female characters especially those women who are under the care of Lady Eboshi. We clearly see that the women who are always carrying riffles are in charge and most likely have the authority figure within relationship status. There is also the greed of materialism where the humans who want the power from the gods of nature almost end human race itself.