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Sources of Inspiration: Call of the Black Panther and The Rules' Trilogy

5/30/2017

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Triggers for our imagination often occur when we're least expecting them: walking the dog, sitting in class, awaking from a dream. Our brains process millions of thoughts everyday but which ones blossom into characters, plot threads and settings is spontaneous. A couple of examples from my own life include The Rules trilogy and Call of the Black Panther.

The former grew from a short dream where I had a crush on Aladdin – yes, from the Disney movie of the same name – yet knew he had to be with Jasmine for the sake of the narrative. That tiny snippet became a three book journey set in an epic fantasy reality where questions of freewill and the greater good are tackled. The fact that it did figuratively blows my mind.

Call of the Black Panther was born from even less concrete roots. It's a story incorporating my deep love for nature and animals, fascination with coming of age stories as well as the tension between individuals and established hierarchy.

Both stories are mine, the writing style is recognisable, yet they handle different matters with very different characters. Part of this stems from the time of my life when they were written. Call of the Black Panther was written during my teenage years when issues of romantic partners, identity and generational divide were particularly influential forces. The Rules trilogy was written during my post-secondary experience and is a more complex story which addresses concepts without concrete labels.

The characters in The Rules trilogy are a prime example. While some more easily fit into the definition of 'evil' or 'good', each is multifaceted and it's possible to understand why they made their choices even though you may not believe those choices are right.

The best example I can give without spoiling plot is when the protagonist witnesses a cult bringing back someone from the dead. Everything about the process is perverted and wrong, yet those who participate are motivated primarily out of love – love tainted by grief. Every person who loses someone they care about hopes their loved one is in a better place. Would you take the opportunity to know for sure, even if it involved shady practices?

My previous blog posts have noted that you should understand your own influences and style. Performing activities such as this is one way to do so. Investigating why I was inspired to write certain narratives at certain times gives me the power to improve and shape my development. If you were to sit down and write something as soon as you've finished reading this, what would it be? No matter what its contents, fiction, nonfiction, journal or shopping list, every thought has the potential to grow into its own entity. Ideas give meaning to our lives and stories are one of the most accessible ways to communicate them.

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Revolutionary Girl Utena: Episode 1

5/27/2017

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The series' intro features Anthy and Utena almost exclusively, drawing attention to the relationship between them as the focus of the story.  Given this attention it's understandable that some would automatically see it as a lesbian series, although that aspect is definitely up to interpretation.

I have no doubt that this is part of the reason I began watching it years ago since I had just discovered Fingersmith, a made for TV movie based on the book by Sarah Waters.  Fingersmith is an expertly crafted story whose central focus is the complex relationship and eventual romance between the two lead female characters and I was inspired to find more tales like it during my first year of University.
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Utena and Anthy on horseback in front of an upside down castle.
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.Anthy and Utena being pulled apart
Back to the first installment of season 1.

Besides the lesbian under (or over) tones, Fairytale tropes like castles, roses, horses and dueling feature throughout the intro, promising fantastical adventures.  Given this opening discovering that the story takes place in a high school is rather disorienting. 

A narrator explains that the main character,Utena, was raised out of grief by a prince, vowing to uphold the hope he gave her by making herself in his image.  In other words, by becoming a prince.  Hence the reason Utena attends what appears to be an extremely prestigious school in a boy's uniform (I love how short-shorts are apparently mandatory attire for the male students).
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Utena brushing off the guidance counselor in her boy's uniform.
Utena is athletic and the girls fawn over her yet she doesn't see herself as boyish.  She has flawlessly integrated this aspect into who she is despite what the larger society thinks (be it negative, in the case of the teacher, or positive, in the case of the fangirls).  The school itself is part university campus part cathedral, rose-symbols prevalent throughout its structure.  A rose-garden backdrop is how Utena first sees Anthy who is tending flowers in the greenhouse.

Our heroine then witnesses Anthy being physically abused by someone she assumes to be the woman's boyfriend (which is disturbing) but the attack is interrupted and we learn that all three figures (Anthy, Touga and Saionji) are members of the Student Council.  Anthy is completely submissive in every scene and apparently no one likes her.
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Touga stops Saionji from further abusing Anthy.
The show moves away from Utena's perspective and we learn that the Student Council is vying for 'ownership' of Anthy who is called 'The Rose Bride'.  Whoever possesses her gains the power to bring world revolution, although what that means is a mystery.  The Council does not condone Saionji's abuse of Anthy but cannot stop him from treating her how he wishes while they're 'engaged'.  Only a figure named 'End of the World', who oversees the rules of the game, can interfere.  Tying into the cruelty of this strange game is the emotional reality of high school.  Utena's apparently sole close friend, Wakaba, has written a love letter to Saionji who has posted it on the bulletin board where spectators are jeering at its sincerity.

To avenge her friend Utena challenges Saionji to a duel.  Little does she know that by challenging the current owner of the Rose Bride she enters herself into the game.  One crucial point I've thus far neglected to mention is that participants in this game where rings with a rose crest.  The prince that raises Utena out of grief gives her a ring identical to that of the duelists.  This is how she is able to enter the forbidden arena at the back of the school to fight Saionji.  The arena is located on the top of a dais raised high in the air and gotten to via a winding staircase.  Above the arena floats an upside-down castle.
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Utena gazes up at the castle above the arena.
Understandably awed by her surroundings, Utena is also surprised to see that Anthy is part of the duel, Saionji pulling a real sword from her chest for the fight.  A winner is determined by whoever cuts the rose (which is placed in the shirt pocket of each duelist) off first.  Despite her lack of a proper weapon (Utena fights with a broken kendo sword) she manages to beat Saionji and becomes engaged to Anthy.  Touga, the Student Council president, who watched the battle from afar, is interested in the new duelist.  Utena does not know what to think - and it's only the beginning of that state for her and the viewers.
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Anthy meets Utena outside the arena as her 'Bride'
All in all it's less cheesy than I recall, although there's no doubt that it's style is unique and takes some getting used to.  The visuals are stunning and heavy with symbolism we can only begin to guess at.  Although it seems simple and light there's something at the edges of my awareness suggesting that there's more to this little drama (and it's not just from what I remember from the initial viewing).

Future entries should not be as long since this episode establishes the setting.  Nonetheless, I hope any who come across this entry enjoy it!

Images courtesy of  http://ohtori.nu/
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Inspiration Series: Revolutionary Girl Utena

5/23/2017

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Despite now being an old anime, Revolutionary Girl Utena is touted as the Neon Genesis Evangelion of shoujo anime.  Its incredibly complex story balances multiple characters, themes and symbols, weaving them into a fascinating and sometimes utterly unfathomable tapestry.   The series' director thought it would be his last project so he threw everything in: the challenges of self-expression in adolescence, tropes in fairytales, gender role analysis etc..  Many great essays and reviews have been written about Revolutionary Girl Utena.  I am not currently in a position to effectively comment on the series since I discovered and watched it several years ago but recall being enormously inspired and struck by it.

I, therefore, wanted it to be the first installment in my Inspiration Series - a series of entries where I comment on books, movies, TV, and other media that has inspired me.  Since I've been meaning to re-watch this series for a while now I thought that including brief written comments about it as I do so would provide both insight and perhaps even amusement for those reading this blog.

Here is the opening video for the series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWuP4aLDU8M

Also, here's a review.
Nihon Review: http://www.nihonreview.com/anime/revolutionary-girl-utena/


Below is an image of Anthy hiding her face, Utena being open and expressive and the princely ideal between them.
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