Bathing on the Moon
Aug. 16th, 2008 11:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tsukikageIn Defense Of SuperS - The Anime
I don't know to what degree I agree with it (especially in comparing Sailor Moon - the series, not the character - to a Harvard graduate).
The truth is, SuperS is more than merely not cute. It's actually one of the more disturbing and mature Sailor Moon series. While the other seasons focus on the collecting of items such as pure hearts and star seeds, SuperS involves the exposing of private dreams. Not collecting them. Not using them for evil schemes. Just exposing and examining them in the hopes that Helios might be hiding there. This is the spiritual equivilent of a strip search.
The Amazon Trio's technique for exposing dreams is nothing short of appalling. Typically, the Trio starts by manipulating the target into a vulnerable spot, usually by intensive deception and exploitation of the person's fears. Then the victim, usually female, is strapped to a board and a dream mirror is yanked from her chest while she screams and struggles. At that point, usually with hysterical laughter, a Trio member will stick his head through the mirror to watch and ridicule the person's dream. When it is determined that Helios is not there, the victim is slated for immediate death. Is this sequence of events, by anyone's standards, even remotely cute? It's an assault bordering on rape! Yet the psychological horror of the quest for the dream mirrors provides potential for major character development. It also allows storylines that revolve around adult issues, such as what defines an individual. Try that with star seeds.
Which is a very good point, except it's really not played that way (perhaps because it's a kids' show). [EDIT: Well, no, it is played as violating a person's very private dreams, but they don't at all portray it as psychological rape; that requires the aid of an adult's more careful analysis.]
I have to say, though, re-watching S, my "I love this show, but mostly out of nostalgia, because in truth it's a really flawed show" has turned toto "I love this show, largelly out of nostalgia; it also has some significant flaws in it." Somehow in this watching (and in this series?) the monster-of-the-day-ness of it all isn't bothering me much at all. Maybe because I'm recognizing something valuable to the overall plot in nearly every episode. I still want to throw my pillow at the screen every time Tuxedo Mask's only role is to throw a rose, make a speech, and remind Sailor Moon that she should attack (especially that last part). I don't mind him breaking into a bad situation and giving her a moment of opportunity, even if he has to do it every other episode, but somehow that last bit of needing to remind her that she's needs to, um, hurry up and use her power because she's kind of in battle here, rubs me the wrong way. I really liked him four times more in PGSM.
Moving on, I set up a once-a-month transfer of $30 to my savings account starting on the 1st and 15th of September. I'll up those transfers to $75 once my finances have more wiggle room, but I've decided that, SGMS or no, I need to be firm about putting away money for my Firstmark payments, so that comes first. In the end, I've decided that, if registration is still open on the 15th, and I have enough money, then I can go. Who knows - maybe Dad'll be willing to lend me $20 if I need it.
I really, really, really need to go to Half-Price tomorrow morning. Like, before Katie picks me up for the Obon thinger. I should go through my stuff I have packed away downstairs, too, and see if there's anything I'm ready to let go of yet.
I don't know to what degree I agree with it (especially in comparing Sailor Moon - the series, not the character - to a Harvard graduate).
The truth is, SuperS is more than merely not cute. It's actually one of the more disturbing and mature Sailor Moon series. While the other seasons focus on the collecting of items such as pure hearts and star seeds, SuperS involves the exposing of private dreams. Not collecting them. Not using them for evil schemes. Just exposing and examining them in the hopes that Helios might be hiding there. This is the spiritual equivilent of a strip search.
The Amazon Trio's technique for exposing dreams is nothing short of appalling. Typically, the Trio starts by manipulating the target into a vulnerable spot, usually by intensive deception and exploitation of the person's fears. Then the victim, usually female, is strapped to a board and a dream mirror is yanked from her chest while she screams and struggles. At that point, usually with hysterical laughter, a Trio member will stick his head through the mirror to watch and ridicule the person's dream. When it is determined that Helios is not there, the victim is slated for immediate death. Is this sequence of events, by anyone's standards, even remotely cute? It's an assault bordering on rape! Yet the psychological horror of the quest for the dream mirrors provides potential for major character development. It also allows storylines that revolve around adult issues, such as what defines an individual. Try that with star seeds.
Which is a very good point, except it's really not played that way (perhaps because it's a kids' show). [EDIT: Well, no, it is played as violating a person's very private dreams, but they don't at all portray it as psychological rape; that requires the aid of an adult's more careful analysis.]
I have to say, though, re-watching S, my "I love this show, but mostly out of nostalgia, because in truth it's a really flawed show" has turned toto "I love this show, largelly out of nostalgia; it also has some significant flaws in it." Somehow in this watching (and in this series?) the monster-of-the-day-ness of it all isn't bothering me much at all. Maybe because I'm recognizing something valuable to the overall plot in nearly every episode. I still want to throw my pillow at the screen every time Tuxedo Mask's only role is to throw a rose, make a speech, and remind Sailor Moon that she should attack (especially that last part). I don't mind him breaking into a bad situation and giving her a moment of opportunity, even if he has to do it every other episode, but somehow that last bit of needing to remind her that she's needs to, um, hurry up and use her power because she's kind of in battle here, rubs me the wrong way. I really liked him four times more in PGSM.
Moving on, I set up a once-a-month transfer of $30 to my savings account starting on the 1st and 15th of September. I'll up those transfers to $75 once my finances have more wiggle room, but I've decided that, SGMS or no, I need to be firm about putting away money for my Firstmark payments, so that comes first. In the end, I've decided that, if registration is still open on the 15th, and I have enough money, then I can go. Who knows - maybe Dad'll be willing to lend me $20 if I need it.
I really, really, really need to go to Half-Price tomorrow morning. Like, before Katie picks me up for the Obon thinger. I should go through my stuff I have packed away downstairs, too, and see if there's anything I'm ready to let go of yet.
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no subject
Date: 2008-08-17 03:14 pm (UTC)I don't think Naoko Takeuchi was thinking of a clever way to portray "psychological rape" when she dreamed up the Super Sailor Moon series.
Sometimes people just take things way too seriously.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-17 05:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-17 06:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-18 12:18 pm (UTC)I guess I need to get to that, huh??
no subject
Date: 2008-08-18 12:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-19 12:46 am (UTC)