This? Is How I Rock
Hi, Dr. ********,
Yesterday's 631 class reading and discussion directed me toward a possible paper topic for this term, and I would like to run it by you first to see what you think before I go off and start making big plans for something that may not pertain to our reading and discussion throughout the rest of the semester.
So here's what I would like to do: I would like to take Badiou's method and attempt to apply it to Japanese anime of the 1980s/90s, specifically the series with apocalyptic events/endings. By studying these narratives in a "sociologically" interrogative manner (perhaps applying our 601 reading of Bourdieu), I would like to think about what fruitful conclusions I can draw about the themes of this (tiny) era within the 20th Century and how they relate to the broader context of their century. My initial/tentative thoughts about these apocalyptic anime narratives so far is that 1) most of the cast of characters tend to die before/at the end, and/but 2) there is always some One upon whom everything about the apocalypse depends. An example of this would be Neon Genisis Evangelion, a series in which the fate of the earth rests on the decisions/mentality of one person: the series's hero Shinji Ikari. Several anime set up this One scenario, and generally this One is the only one left standing by the series's end, after the apocalyptic event. Other anime, however, work in a Two, as Badiou would say, and an example of this is the series Berserk, which takes the fated creation/determination of a One, who can only come to power if he sacrifices the Multi (all his faithful soldiers who follow him), and throws in a character who operates outside of the fate, a kind of anti-hero, and stands in opposition to the One, his former leader and presumed friend.
Of course, however fascinating I personally find the above, I must work in Renaissance drama somehow. I haven't read nearly as much Ren. drama as I've watched apocalyptic anime, so I can only make a tentative guess how I can relate the two.
I think I could do this by examining Ren. tragedies, considering the narratives of the One vs. the Multi vs. the Two, and find unifying themes/ideas that characterize their century. I could certainly discuss Shakespeare's and Sidney's versions of Antony and Cleopatra and the common theme of a One (Caesar) triumphing over the Multi (everyone, basically) and the Two (A and C), and if I find that our other texts this semester do not relate/apply to my topic, then I would like to bring in two or three other Ren. plays.
So those are my thoughts for now. I'm better at organizing myself in writing than in conversation, which is why I am sending an email instead of meeting in person. If you would like to meet in person to discuss this instead of giving feedback via email, that's fine with me, and I'll make an appointment or come in during your office hours.
Thank you for your time,
Sarah
Not part of email:
Hell yes I can relate anime to any fuckin' thing I want. Boo yeah.
Yesterday's 631 class reading and discussion directed me toward a possible paper topic for this term, and I would like to run it by you first to see what you think before I go off and start making big plans for something that may not pertain to our reading and discussion throughout the rest of the semester.
So here's what I would like to do: I would like to take Badiou's method and attempt to apply it to Japanese anime of the 1980s/90s, specifically the series with apocalyptic events/endings. By studying these narratives in a "sociologically" interrogative manner (perhaps applying our 601 reading of Bourdieu), I would like to think about what fruitful conclusions I can draw about the themes of this (tiny) era within the 20th Century and how they relate to the broader context of their century. My initial/tentative thoughts about these apocalyptic anime narratives so far is that 1) most of the cast of characters tend to die before/at the end, and/but 2) there is always some One upon whom everything about the apocalypse depends. An example of this would be Neon Genisis Evangelion, a series in which the fate of the earth rests on the decisions/mentality of one person: the series's hero Shinji Ikari. Several anime set up this One scenario, and generally this One is the only one left standing by the series's end, after the apocalyptic event. Other anime, however, work in a Two, as Badiou would say, and an example of this is the series Berserk, which takes the fated creation/determination of a One, who can only come to power if he sacrifices the Multi (all his faithful soldiers who follow him), and throws in a character who operates outside of the fate, a kind of anti-hero, and stands in opposition to the One, his former leader and presumed friend.
Of course, however fascinating I personally find the above, I must work in Renaissance drama somehow. I haven't read nearly as much Ren. drama as I've watched apocalyptic anime, so I can only make a tentative guess how I can relate the two.
I think I could do this by examining Ren. tragedies, considering the narratives of the One vs. the Multi vs. the Two, and find unifying themes/ideas that characterize their century. I could certainly discuss Shakespeare's and Sidney's versions of Antony and Cleopatra and the common theme of a One (Caesar) triumphing over the Multi (everyone, basically) and the Two (A and C), and if I find that our other texts this semester do not relate/apply to my topic, then I would like to bring in two or three other Ren. plays.
So those are my thoughts for now. I'm better at organizing myself in writing than in conversation, which is why I am sending an email instead of meeting in person. If you would like to meet in person to discuss this instead of giving feedback via email, that's fine with me, and I'll make an appointment or come in during your office hours.
Thank you for your time,
Sarah
Not part of email:
Hell yes I can relate anime to any fuckin' thing I want. Boo yeah.