Thoughts On Made In Abyss
When the presentation for the anime Made In Abyss finished (which was a good presentation- very detailed and well-researched!), I asked the presenter something that I always wondered about when people support anime with a... Particular type of controversy surrounding it.
I asked her, "How do you rationalize watching and actively supporting a series that was made by-- essentially a pedophile?"
I asked that because this particular series has a huge following and a lot of support behind it due to its world-building and interesting premise, yet I feel like barely any of the fans are caring to speak on the fact that the creator of the series, Akihito Tsukushi, often puts the child characters of the story in sexual/overly violent to the point of being compared to torture-porn situations. It doesn't help at all that these situations are visually framed in a way that indisputably appeals to a not-so-appealing audience.
It's one thing to have a story that has intense/morally bad events that unfold (such as rape, incest, child abuse, etc), that doesn't romanticize or fetishize these events. That is completely ok, and these stories deserve to be heard/supported, rather than censored.
However, I feel like the anime fandom as a whole are often too uncritical to stories that include similar themes, especially to those that do it for the sake of fetishization.
Most anime fans who enjoy shows like this argue that "its all fictional! It can't hurt anyone!" Which... I'm sorry but that's bullshit.
Ignoring these issues in the media we consume is dangerous- especially for those who are being fetishized in said media. I know this because two good friends of mine (in two completely separate accounts) were preyed upon in their early years by people who happened to be fans of anime that fetishized young girls.
Because of incidents like this, to say that fiction doesn't effect reality is ridiculous- like, why are there so many people who dedicate their lives to fiction? Is going to cons in cosplay, feeling genuinely moved by a story, or buying a figurine of a character that brings you joy- not enough of an effect on reality? Some people base their whole damn personalities on fiction!!! One of fiction's main functions is to teach us about the real world, and what is right and wrong!!!! It's indisputable at this point!
That said, I don't think its wrong to enjoy Made in Abyss, it has artistic merit, and a decently sized fanbase for a reason. I'm also certain that the majority of people who watch it are not pedophiles! I just wish that more anime fans would get the guts to open their eyes and be critical of what they consume- not just critical of basic plot/character elements- but of the MORAL IMPLICATIONS!!!! I wish more fans would think about why the artists/writers behind these shows made these decisions, and what it actually means to have a series where the writer actively made a story that leads children characters to be violated and fetishized in a manner that is framed as if you're reading a damn torture hentai.
Ugh, enough said.
I asked her, "How do you rationalize watching and actively supporting a series that was made by-- essentially a pedophile?"
I asked that because this particular series has a huge following and a lot of support behind it due to its world-building and interesting premise, yet I feel like barely any of the fans are caring to speak on the fact that the creator of the series, Akihito Tsukushi, often puts the child characters of the story in sexual/overly violent to the point of being compared to torture-porn situations. It doesn't help at all that these situations are visually framed in a way that indisputably appeals to a not-so-appealing audience.
It's one thing to have a story that has intense/morally bad events that unfold (such as rape, incest, child abuse, etc), that doesn't romanticize or fetishize these events. That is completely ok, and these stories deserve to be heard/supported, rather than censored.
However, I feel like the anime fandom as a whole are often too uncritical to stories that include similar themes, especially to those that do it for the sake of fetishization.
Most anime fans who enjoy shows like this argue that "its all fictional! It can't hurt anyone!" Which... I'm sorry but that's bullshit.
Ignoring these issues in the media we consume is dangerous- especially for those who are being fetishized in said media. I know this because two good friends of mine (in two completely separate accounts) were preyed upon in their early years by people who happened to be fans of anime that fetishized young girls.
Because of incidents like this, to say that fiction doesn't effect reality is ridiculous- like, why are there so many people who dedicate their lives to fiction? Is going to cons in cosplay, feeling genuinely moved by a story, or buying a figurine of a character that brings you joy- not enough of an effect on reality? Some people base their whole damn personalities on fiction!!! One of fiction's main functions is to teach us about the real world, and what is right and wrong!!!! It's indisputable at this point!
That said, I don't think its wrong to enjoy Made in Abyss, it has artistic merit, and a decently sized fanbase for a reason. I'm also certain that the majority of people who watch it are not pedophiles! I just wish that more anime fans would get the guts to open their eyes and be critical of what they consume- not just critical of basic plot/character elements- but of the MORAL IMPLICATIONS!!!! I wish more fans would think about why the artists/writers behind these shows made these decisions, and what it actually means to have a series where the writer actively made a story that leads children characters to be violated and fetishized in a manner that is framed as if you're reading a damn torture hentai.
Ugh, enough said.
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