[Mini-editorial/Discussion] Is GACKT a bad storywriter?

[batcheeks]

I was going to, but I feel that the point I wanted to illustrate deserved a post of its own as we’re bound to go off-topic where Moon Saga is concerned.

I’m not going to sugarcoat it and give it to you straight.

I liked it well enough for its pretty visuals and some compelling acting and action scenes, but like with Nemuri, there were elements I had

Comments

[akhsnika]

First of all, I have to admit that I haven't had the chance to see Moon Saga yet, and it's been quite some time since I've seen RRII, so my thoughts on the subject is lacking actual first-hand knowledge somewhat. I also have noticed the exactly same patterns as you have. I also agree, it's not very skilled writing. However, it may well be intentional. Or not. I really don't know. I think in order for me to truly determine whether Gackt is a good writer, he should write something totally different. Only then could I know whether he is skilled or not as an author. Sure, he clearly has an eye for visuals, and a sense of timing and use of contrasts to enhance the atmosphere (like with RRI and Diablolos's "Being tortured! Everyone Dies! ->Kitties! GackJob in Drag!"-style), but as an writer...I wonder

[amaia]

I've been of the opinion for a long time that GACKT is an exceptionally brilliant songwriter, a decent actor, and a mediocre author :P

[batcheeks]

Thanks for linking to the trope article, I thought it was a widely known term but then again I read comics.

[tihojenebo]

You know I could swear he didn't used to be THAT rigid in gender roles as he is these days. And it's getting worse...

I'll add this to those women you were talking about. I mean, if this is meant metaphorical or in whatever other way she does shoot him on the stage!

[schwarzfluegel]

I hardly read the translations of G's lyrics (sew me - he he already moves me with his great music ;p), but I read a lot that most of his songs are about the same topic either °°

[tihojenebo]

A bad storywriter and a good storyteller. I think that sums it up for me.

I remember some Moonchild review. The author pretty much said the story in itself is awfully cliché and not that good, but the movie itself it's still very watchable and that he just can't really pinpoint why that is.lol And even if you look at his songs lyrics. In overall the theme and even the words he uses are pretty repetitive and yet his delivery makes each/most of them pretty unique and amazing.

Also he is a master of hopeless stories that he somehow manages to turn into ones that leave you with hope in the end. That bitter-sweetness is one of the reasons I like his stories even when they frustrate me with how cliché and rigid in their roles his characters and themes can be.

And as amaia said. I would also like to see him develop more his atypical female characters. But I'd say one of the reasons it will not happen, is the fact that on stage, talking visualives here, he's playing a character and I'd say it's easier to portray a "timid" female character ala

[moyashi_fukadai]

maybe next Visualive --> woman on stage that plays the character :'D

[tihojenebo]

Like this?;P You know he did so much retconning to the RR world, if you ask me. lol

[moyashi_fukadai]

LMAO xD
maybe 3 secs more XD

[nekobob_chan]

I need to consolidate some peoples' comments in my comment.

akhsnika: what if Gackt can't just write female-characters?
I have been saying (mostly to myself) for years that GACKT doesn't understand women very well. I don't think he can quite manage to get past his image of the loyal, self-sacrificing, and tragically いない woman that seems to exist in many of the stories he tells. Aside from that one character, he's holding no cards. So yeah, would not surprise me at all if he doesn't want to spend time trying to pretend to write subject he knows nothing about. Lol.
And hey, I'll go even further and say, can we really blame him for it? I think at least some reasons why G doesn't have a multitude of well-rounded diverse female characters in his head become apparent when you think about his life to date.

amaia:I've been of the opinion for a long time that GACKT is an exceptionally brilliant songwriter, a decent actor, and a mediocre author :P
and tihojenebo:A bad storywriter and a good storyteller. ... And even if you look at his songs lyrics. In overall the

[akhsnika]

Yeah, I think you absolutely have a point there, how G's life may effect the characters he creates. It's easy to forget amidst all the success and fame of his, exactly how much "normal" things (like family or significant other) he has been missing and is still missing in his life. Not to mention that he can't exactly do normal everyday things either, like go shopping to the nearest mall or go wherever he wants incognito without screaming fangirls and paparazzi's. He hasn't been able to do that for about 20 years now, which is most of his adult life. I bet this influences his general worldview somewhat as well. Sure all of this is a choice of his own, but it absolutely has an effect on him one way or another. But then again, G seems to be very interested in learning about new things, so who knows what he may create when these things take effect (whatever they are). Maybe next time he'll create an actual living and breathing female character, and not just a cardboard-cutout :)

[moyashi_fukadai]

of course his life effects his characters... we live our present with the past on our shoulders and we look at the future with memory of what it was and might be, always with the past looking at us...
not many people can throw away their past and live "freely" their future... still, those persons couldn't accept who they were and cowardly or very bravely had to give it up...
we don't leave for the sake of the future, but in memory of the past...
horrible English and I basically just woke up, humor me lol