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Ty watches Ecchi, pass it on
Thursday, 19-Mar-15 02:54:48 UTC from web-
@mushi You know, I could actually make a decemt argument as to how the "fanservice" in Monogatari is fundamentally different from what we conventionally refer to as "fanservice", and that the perception of it just being some creepy, perverted show is awfully skewed.
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@northernnarwhal and what would be the argument?
Thursday, 19-Mar-15 03:08:53 UTC from web-
@mushi The penultimate difference is in both intent and execution. To really elaborate we first have to get a better grasp of fanservice itself. Conventionally, it’s used as a means of sexually objectifying the characters for the sake of pleasing viewers. The perspective of the actual viewer is lustful; and it generally detracts from the artistic or emotional weight of a scene as well as demonstrating that the show itself looks down on its viewers as people who need that sort of imagery to stay involved in what they’re watching. It destroys the atmosphere because it’s often used in this manner, which is disrespectful to both the viewer and the series. Now earlier I mentioned perspective, and that’s important, because here’s where the Monogatari series veers away from the idea of “fanservice”. Akiyuki Shinbo, the director of the series, understands that the framing of the scene as well as colour motifs and clothing all play a crucial role in establishing meaning.
Thursday, 19-Mar-15 03:55:27 UTC from web -
@mushi If fanservice is a representation of the male gaze, Monogatari is a representation of the different gazes of its respective characters. The series itself is not just about sexuality, but also our perspective on it as people. Don’t believe me? We can even take that famous toothbrush scene as an example. In that scene, Karen (the female character) is wearing clothes far outside of her normal attire with the intent of deliberately messing with Araragi (the male character). While normally more gender-neutral, her clothing in that scene is an intentional show of vulnerability. This is accentuated even more in the way the camera spends lots of time panning down. The whole episode is really revolving around a joke that “brushing teeth shouldn’t be this sexy”, and is in itself sort of a satire on the nature of fanservice. But it’s one step further too; it’s also a meditation on intimacy.
Thursday, 19-Mar-15 03:55:53 UTC from web -
@mushi Everything from the clothing and direction as mentioned before to even the colouring of the scene (showcasing lots of warm oranges and magenta) is important. The use of vulnerability, as mentioned before, is used as a means of throwing the main character off guard through intimacy. This is a character choice, not a viewer choice. The character is both aware of and in control of their sexuality, and the perspective of the viewer is not a reflection of the viewer’s intent but that character’s intent.
Thursday, 19-Mar-15 03:56:16 UTC from web -
@mushi In that scene, the way a fully clothed character is perceived is based on her own intention. The show is not fetishizing characters for the sake of objectification; it’s providing a lens that’s crucial to the tone of any given scene. This kind of insight into the thought patterns of a character as well as the development of a show’s theme and atmosphere is a far cry from how “fanservice” is defined earlier. To simply pigeon hole it as mindless perversion is missing the entire point, and is generally a thoughtless accusation levelled at a misunderstood series.
Thursday, 19-Mar-15 03:56:42 UTC from web -
@mushi Plus, even putting everything I’ve just said aside, it’s worth noting that the series is almost ENTIRELY composed of dialogue and rapport. The characters are broken and flawed and their respective stories told throughout the disjointed narrative act as vignettes of the human spirit. The show spends more time in discussion than anything else, and getting into it most of what you’re going to be seeing is abstract scenery and witty exchanges (as well as a fair bit of Japanese wordplay). With all that being said it’s still not a series for everyone, but I feel it’s better to gain a better understanding of it than to simply throw words like “ecchi” at it that trivialize it and devalue its integrity.
Thursday, 19-Mar-15 03:56:55 UTC from web-
@northernnarwhal this Potato Knishesing wall of text
Thursday, 19-Mar-15 03:58:54 UTC from web-
@rarity In all fairness Mushi asked for it
Thursday, 19-Mar-15 03:59:28 UTC from web -
Thursday, 19-Mar-15 03:59:41 UTC from web
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Thursday, 19-Mar-15 03:59:55 UTC from web
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@northernnarwhal I was giving it a listen and got about a third of the way through when I had to go do something and I haven't picked it up again. I REALLY dug it though
Thursday, 19-Mar-15 04:00:24 UTC from web-
@rarity I've been listening to it NONSTOP since it came out. I actually think I prefer it to gkmc too, which I know is saying A LOT but I honestly feel that this is his magnum opus.
Thursday, 19-Mar-15 04:01:41 UTC from web-
@northernnarwhal the production is so different and I love it
Thursday, 19-Mar-15 04:02:01 UTC from web-
@rarity The production is pretty much perfect. Not only in the composition, which is an intelligent and unique mixture of a bunch of different styles like funk, soul, jazz, boom-bap, and others (which are historically all fairly "black" genres, which plays into one of the album's themes of black empowerment) but also the mixing and mastering are damn near perfect also especially given how detailed and layered a lot of the instrumentals are.
Thursday, 19-Mar-15 04:05:26 UTC from web
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@northernnarwhal probably gonna finish it now that you reminded me
Thursday, 19-Mar-15 04:02:13 UTC from web
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