Blog Post #9: Ethnocide
March 29, 2010
I felt inspired in class when we were talking about how American ideals were expressed in animations such as Rocky and Bullwinkle in regards to the Cold War with anti-Russian sentiments to look at other countries use of animation to make a point about the state of their society and culture. With increased culture blending as a product of globalization, I found that Japan has Westernized in a big way. Understandably with each generation more Western than the next, Japanese traditional culture is being threatened.
I found a term via wiki that I like: “Ethnocide is used to describe the destruction of a culture of a people, as opposed to the people themselves.” I think that the theme of ethnocide and concern for the depletion of Japanese traditions is expressed in Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away. You see Chihiro’s parents transform into glutenous pigs from not respecting the Japanese god’s food. Also, I think they look like fat Americans, but that could be in my head.
March 30, 2010 at 7:45 am
I agree that westernization has come to Japan in the past hundred years or so and sometimes in a bad way. Yes there are some negative and positives to this. One idea I thought of when reading your post was that in the movie ‘spirited away’ was when the black blob like creature who basically takes over the whole place, simply because he is rich. The idea of rich persons from coming in from other countries and exploiting the poor of another culture is something that can be found in a lot of places, sadly. Another movie about the westernization of Japan is ‘The Last Samurai’ its not animated and yes Tom Cruise is in it, however it is a very good movie and helps to shed light on the westernization of Japan.
May 5, 2010 at 9:53 pm
I agree that westernization has occurred in Japan but it has happened in many places. The influence and function of the Western World has been held on this pedestal. I agree with Lyver that it does have its positives and negatives.
May 5, 2010 at 10:09 pm
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