Week 6

According to Napier,how does this anime problematise traditional (or conservative) constructions of gender, class and race? 

Princess Monoake is a complex mix of traditional Japanese spiritualism, class concerns and offers an altered perspective of Japanese history. Although the film appears to be set in 1500's Japan, it delves into fantasy, with the literal existence of natural "gods" and magic. 
Princess Monoke brilliantly touches on the progressiv and societal concerns of that time period (still often modern day concerns) of mans domination of Nature, the increase in technology and the loss of spiritualism. Oddly, the film delves away from the usual characters seen in traditional Japanese history, such as the samurai and aristrocratic classes,instead choosing to focus on more common people, who Japanese history largely ignores.Cavallaro (2006) says-"In contrast to idealised myths of harmony, progress and an unproblematic homogenous people, ruled by a patriachal elite , the film offers a vision of cultural dissonance, spiritual loss and environmental apocapypse." 
Its strange that the director chose to portray a divided Japanese society. It almost seemed that the headstrong female characters were in a way responsible for the breakdown of the society, though this is open to interpretation. Although, the protaganist of Lady Eboshi (a strong militiristic Matriarch) did seem to defintely be responsible for the some of the main atrocities carried out in the film, acheiving a form of demonisation regardless of intention. 

At one point a male character apologises to another male about the behaviour of the females, who were acting loud and obnoxious. This still seemed to me that the film was blaming the sad state of society on the loss of traditional values. The film also associates more positive female characters with nature and spirituality. This returns to a traditional Japan, where females were "natural" objects of beauty and piousness, rather than headstrong confident women.
Cavallaro (2006) states that Princess Mononoke captures traditional themes-"ranging from the notion of the emperors untouchability, to the traditional iconization of the feminine."

Finally, with reference to Cavallaro (2006), what distinguishes Mononoke technically as being – it is generally agreed – a great work of anime? 

The unique blend of societal themes that i mentioned in my answer to the first question, as well as the format of anime's unrivalled ability to blend fantasy and reality, are truly what quantify Princess Mononoke as a complete sucess. Cavallaro (2006) says that more traditional media or live action film- "...could never as effectively interweave serious political concerns and purely imaginary elements without somehow sacrificing either its realism or its fantastic dimension." 


Napier, S (2005). Anime: From Akira to Howl's Moving Castle. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan


Cavallaro, D (2006). The Anime Art of Hayao Miyazaki. London: Macfarland and Company