Forum - View topicHey, Answerman! [2006-02-17]
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UltimaShadowfax
 Posts: 288 |
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Boy, I had a lot of stuff to say, but it looks like everyone covered it hehe.
Just to reiterate a few points: In Mere Christianity, Lewis argues that there is an invisible moral code that everyone knows exists within them. He does not call it Christian morality, merely morality itself. And yes, I would quite agree, Rurouni Kenshin, in this sense, has a very moral, which some would notice as Christian, theme. It's even more notable for the fact that it was originally published in a magazine in which the main character's goal is usually to "be the best" whereas Kenshin's goal is to help others. |
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HeeroTX
Posts: 2046 Location: Austin, TX |
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I think if you're able to step back and basically "rename" the goddesses as "angels" the whole thing could be argued to take a VERY Christian bent (altho I realize this isn't necessarily the intent). I think Ah My Goddess is basically a romantic comedy that does a relaitvely good job of incorporating the spiritual, but it's no more based on "Norse Mythology" than Evangelion is based on Christianity. It STARTED with some Nordic influences (the norns as the 3 goddesses, Slepnir and Yggdrasil being IN the manga and to a much lesser extent, the anime) but they're far from the obvious building block. "Midgard" is never referenced and "Kami-sama" is NEVER referred to as "Odin" or any of the other Norse pantheon. "Demons" are also not a major player in Norse mythology (AFAIK) but are a central force in AMG. Fujishima himself has also noted that it's not a direct correlation to Norse mythology. (which is why she's "Belldandy" and not "Verthandi") Also, even though I don't appreciate the movie specifically, if you chose to, you could reinterpret the AMG movie as an interesting allegory for "Lucifer's rebellion". Anyway, I don't think AH My Goddess is intended as a "Christian" manga/anime (even with the existence of angels & demons) but I think if you can get past the "blasphemy" of "gods & goddesses" (who are obviously subordinate to "The Almighty") it is definitely in keeping with Christian IDEALS. |
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HitokiriShadow
 Posts: 6251 |
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That's the least of the reasons it gets flack. It gets flack for poor art and really bad dialogue. Like "We got dissed, dawg." Even worse, the line came from a white guy. |
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Dune
Posts: 223 |
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Well, now I've gotta pick this thing up. There's nothing better than an unintentionally funny manga.
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shadow_guyver
 Posts: 307 Location: Tokyo, Japan |
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Well, there were the giants, who basically had the roles that demons typically have. They were enemies of the gods, ruled over the Norse version of Hell, and destroyed the world in Ragnarok. I haven't seen much of AMG, so I can't really say if the demons you talk about are anything like Norse giants, but there are demon-like things in Norse mythology that I would definately call major players. |
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Jimmy Balls-O-Steel
Posts: 60 Location: The Great White North |
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About the contest...
Is it okay if we do hentai? |
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HeeroTX
Posts: 2046 Location: Austin, TX |
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If one wanted to make a connection there, you probably could, as I said, I don't think it has a Christian "intent" at its core, merely that if you chose to read it as a "Christian" manga you could if you can get past calling the "good" beings "goddeses". (and I use "good" generically, since they're not ENTIRELY "noble" nor are the demons entirely "evil", war between Heaven & Hell in AMG could be said to have various analogues, and it's unclear what happens to people when they die in the AMG-verse (altho numerous ghosts have appeared in the series)) The Demons of AMG are more like the classical interpretation of a "Faustian" type demon because BOTH sides enter into things with a contract with mortals. But whereas the goddesses enter into a contract freely with "good" people, as in Christian tradition for "a deal with the devil", demon contracts carry a "price". But then, Fujishima has also incorporated, alternate dimensions, various sorts of spirits, and other influences. Heck, Urd's potion making is almost akin to the Western view of "witchcraft" (which could make for interesting discussion when one considers that she is "half demon") so it really covers a lot of ground. |
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Samurai-with-glasses
 Posts: 628 |
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Usually I am very open-minded about many things, but this debate is somehow getting on my head.
I am one of those who greatly dislike it when a bunch of critics take it to themselves to interpret a work of art and try to make a bunch of connections to give that art "meaning." It is demeaning to me; what's the point? Why ruin the purity of art? Why look for something that is not there? It's a little less annoying if the author's conscious intent is made clear that a message should be delivered. But if that is a preachy, didactic message, then it usually repels me. The Lord of the Rings is quite an exception. I mean, come on! Why look for a Christian manga? The few which are done are absolutely pathetic enough already! I know I'm offending a huge crowd here but -- please! Manga is entertainment, not gospels. If we seek religion in manga so badly, when will we write our first manga about the Prophet Mohammed's life so to get further than the poor Danish ever could?  Perhaps they could as well declare a fatwa against us too, by then!
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Zac
ANN Executive Editor
 Posts: 7912 Location: Anime News Network Technodrome |
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You should consider taking an art history class or reading a few books on the subject; your perspective on this will reverse completely. |
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Fuyu
Posts: 19 |
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Arghh!!! i wanna enter the contest!! but.... i've never really entered before? how do you enter it? Do you just e-mail it to [email protected].?
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the draykin
 Posts: 1 |
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Are we allowed to update a contest submission?
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Zac
ANN Executive Editor
Posts: 7912 Location: Anime News Network Technodrome |
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You sure can. Anything goes. |
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HyweinKioko4031
 Posts: 5 |
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See, I think that was the point of asking about the chances of works that aren't so "in-your-face"
No offense, but to ask 'Why look for a Christian manga?' is kind of a stupid question. A lot of my anime-friends are devout Christians, and some of the manga subjects out right now can be a little unnerving (not to say I don't agree with you -- manga is just entertainment), but a "Christian" manga (and as Zac said, it depeneds on what you mean by 'Christian'-based) would be a bit refreshing -- as long as it didn't suck, and wasn't so in-your-face about it that it completely loses the story. |
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djarch
Posts: 41 |
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If something like that was made, and it was genuinely entertaining, what would be your problem with it? I wouldn't mind it terribly if religion began to show up in my anime or manga... it's already on our tv, radio and movies, and I believe it thrives. It IS after all, a medium... not a genre. 
It's true, unfortunately, that the religious manga that's out right now kinda sucks, but maybe someday it won't. If someone else wants to seek it out, why shouldn't they? You make it sound like it would bring the rest of anime down in some way... It's their personal preference, leave them be. I would probabaly never go out and watch an anime just because it's Christian/Catholic/Mormon -- but I wouldn't count it out either. At least not based on the religion alone. Ah yes, and "why ruin the purity of art? why look for something that is not there?" Just because the artist didn't intentionally put it there, doesn't mean it's not there... nor does it ruin the purity of art. Like most things, I'd consider art to be open to interpretation (depending on the subject, I suppose). Most art classes are exactly about "reading into it" - provided you can back it up, of course. |
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Mohawk52
 Posts: 8202 Location: England, UK |
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