Conflict

[jeriendhal]

I'm itching to write a review of Christine Morgan's "Naughty & Dice" for Pyramid. The subject matter, not to mention the illustrations, are a bit too explicit to bring it to work though. Unfortunately lunchtime at work is likely the only time I'll have to write the darned thing.

In other news, I borrowed the first "Chobits" DVD from Jim and watched the first episode on it. I have to say I'm a bit conlficted about the thing, which seems to showcase the differences in perception of sexyness & innocence as percieved by Japan and the West. Admittedly it's just the first episode, but I was mildly disgusted when Hedeki (18 year old kid from the sticks studying to get into University) is looking for the "on" button to activate Chii (a computer built to look like a young girl) and realized just where it had to be. That and the constant harping on "I can use this thing to download P0rN!"

The wierd thing is that the original manga the series is based on was done by CLAMP, a very successful all female manga group. In that context I can't decide if they're playing along with or just outright parodying some of the typical male Japanese attitudes towards women.

Tis a puzzlement.

Comments

[archangelbeth]

I think they are, indeed, using it as a humor point. His attitudes -- at least in the manga -- decidedly change towards Chi as the series progresses.

(This is, near as I and spouse can tell, a thing that anime series often do -- they start out comedic, fluffy, almost slapstick parody, and then BAM! They start getting serious, keen stuff sneaking in. We cite The Irresponsible Captain Tylor (who IS Eli!), which looks like a parody of Star Blazers and then gets... more.)

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

Sorta like how we actually get something approaching a plot while watching "Slayers" (at least until the second series started). I gotcha.

[archangelbeth]

Zactly so. And Slayers is really humor. Some things, like Those Who Hunt Elves, stay pretty much comedic. Though even TWHE got some tricky bits in it at the end, which explained certain things about the series that one would have thought were just there for humor.

About that Chi

[jvowles.livejournal.com]

One of the things you quickly find out in Chobits is that it's playing on multiple levels. That uncomfortable moment is definitely meant to be uncomfortable....but it pays off a few episodes later. It's actually a pretty key moment, and there seems to be a special significance as to who can activate Chi that way (well, duh!) and there's something pretty wonky going on with Chi to begin with.

They really do set this story up as a sort of spin on the usual "I dream of Jeannie" routine, where the hapless loser is granted a fantasy girl, but that angle is subverted in due course because there's a lot more going on than is at first clear.

In fact, I've just watched v5 and they *totally* threw me a curveball that, in retrospect, makes sense. The first batch of episodes sets things up and introduces the key characters; the second batch begins adding complications, and by v3 the characters start to not only get fleshed out, but actually grow and learn.

Re: About that Chi

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

I'll trust your judgement on this then. I'll try watching the remainder of the episodes this evening, after I get back from my doctor's appointment.