Matt Walsh gets asked, "What's your opinion on anime?"
(twitter.com)
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That's just collectivism in general. Its older than anime for Japan to write its stories like that, same with most of Asia. Its like accusing American media of having an insidious plot to indoctrinate children into rebellion by planting ideas of free thinking and democracy.
Most people probably haven't thought of these connections because its just saying things like "Dio is popular" and adding "clearly its because he is a Satanic archetype."
The collectivism is seen as good most of the time even in a dystopia. Japan makes it look convincing because they make these shows look cool. I guess i should've put it better.
American media has similar collectivism presented in a slightly different flavour: the government and/or superheroes maintain the world order, while at the same time espouse some semblance of individualism. seen as good. Villains who have been hurt and see the world as broken try to change things in their own way, but usually end up going too far. i don't think it's that far off from japanese media. just that japan does it better
Look at Psycho Pass where the system is clearly damaging to the mental health of its citizens, and the ones who want to expose & dismantle that system are the villains. The ones who uphold the law to maintain the system are the heroes, so that it can continue to function off of the suffering of the people. by the end of it we're meant to see that as a virtuous thing
Generally, doing one's duty and trying to keep harmony and hierarchy are incredibly important to getting humanity back on track out of a dystopia. I'd even say that often times having that structural backbone of a system would be better than not for many people.
Its a problem where Japan has one extreme, the West has the other, and both could learn from each on it.
I won't argue a lot of the systems making up the background in some series are ridiculous. Heck Attack on Titan is now almost entirely known for trying to present something as the correct choice and failing so badly it ruined its legacy retroactively. I just find the idea of it being Satanic specifically unfounded.
I guess my idea of what is satanic in media is different to most people who've commented. I'm guessing you're trying to see some occult references, devil symbolism, rituals, that sort.. I see it as the destruction of what it means to be human, and the control system that ensures that while severing ties to a higher self/being/spirit/purpose, torture in a sense
Attack on Titan... you reminded me about that series. Thinking about it there are elements to it that are satanic in my view that might fit the other definition. The world has been placed into a system that feeds off of the suffering and continued torture of the people
Marley and Paradis have been told a false history that has controlled how they perceive and the world & respond to it. Going on for generations
Instead of looking within to achieve personal growth, everyone is always externalising hatred and blame, which only serves to further the lie. To further this control system of the mind
If you want to see the ritual element of the satanism portrayed in the series, the people of paradis are routinely assaulted by Titans sent from Marley. They have no knowledge of it, Marley has no knowledge that Paradis have forgotten the past. It's a vicious cycle of senseless slaughter, blood ritual
Then there is the child sacrificial ritual. In Paradis the Titans have made life so bad that done if the children (the protag group we follow) have no issue risking their life to fight off Titans. They willingly play along into the ritual. The higher ups in Paradis kind of knew the true history and still permit sending kids to be slaughtered despite that.
Then in Marley the children are even more brainwashed through historical guilt that they too are eager to give up their lives for the "greater good", to also participate in the mind control system so that it continues to function. Some want to become Titans, discarding their human selves, just so they get an edge in the blood ritual. The adults demand it or encourage it, for the sake of reparations and making peace
It's not all anime of course, but there are just some that stand out too much that I can't unsee it. The problem is that it's becoming normalised. When you're shown so many representations of a world that wants to break you, but to reject it means ostracism from society ... Would you be surprised or not bat an eye when that same kind of world is at your doorstep?
The literal Satanic Bible is a book. The Actual Literal Bible is a book as well, is it ruined by sharing that space with the other? I don't judge every book on it being in the same medium as the very foundational text of the entire Church of Satan, nor its numerous offshoots.
That's why I reject the entire premise you are trying to build. Because its based on reducing an entire medium of media/entertainment because a few are made in a way you consider degenerative.
Do you prefer stories where the heroes are perpetually the "rebel group" against the "oppressor empire" like in western shows? Even when it didnt make sense like the star wars sequels? like how SJWs see themselves as?.
"Expose" and dismantle the system can easily also be seen as a Marxist thing as well. Marxists like to "expose" all the "faults" of society to create some revolution to take over.
No, I would like them if there was a reasonable basis for it. But thinking about it there are very few media that I can recall that actually has a good rebel vs authority storyline
Re: the Marxist thing -- yes that is part of it exactly. Some of these villains get so much adoration desire being psychopathic
I think you got my stance on this mixed up. I'm not vouching for one side or the other within storylines, I was pointing out my take on how this is all presented to us