On Nudity and Profundity: Defending Ecchi and Ambivalence

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Anthy, art, ecchi, fan service, Fanservice, Ghost in the Shell, Himari, Holo, Kanba, Mawaru Penguindrum, Motoko Kusanagi, nudity, Queen's Blade, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Senjougahara, Spice and Wolf, Utena

Revolutionary Girl Utena – Gender dynamics meet Yuri

Aelysium brought up an interesting discussion about the blatant use of ecchi in anime. I’m really pleased to have this small chat with him.

Aelysium: This post idea came to me after watching Philosotaku’s video titled a defense of ecchi. Whilst for a lot of people ecchi is definitely an end unto itself, for a great deal of others it is often a hindrance; a cliche that many would argue is ruining anime. I don’t particularly care for ecchi myself and often will be put off by any show that tries to cover up plot and character holes using well-endowed harems, however, I have to wonder if there really isn’t any subtle use for the genre. Is it simply pandering to an already subdued market or is there, beneath the prima facie titillation, something that can actually inspire depth in ecchi? I would argue the latter. Whilst ecchi is certainly not the pioneer of great philosophy, it isn’t the completely barren land of bustling valleys and gratuitous panty shots one might believe.

Some Retrospect After a Year of Blogging

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Alice, Aniblogging, anime, Anniversary, Himari, Ikoku Meiro no Croiseé, Kanba, Lemmas and Submodalities, Mawaru Penguindrum, Shoma, SnippetTee, Touhou, Youmu, Youmu Konpaku, Yune, Yuyuko Saigyouji

Looking back on how many seconds, hours, days, and months I spent on this site, it’s kind of overwhelming to think that I already reached my first year of blogging. It feels like it was only yesterday when I decided to put up Snippettee’s Blog, and just hours ago that I re-named it to Lemmas and Submodalities.

For some special reason, it’s fulfilling and gratifying to re-visit my old posts and comments of my readers. Every single article pops so many unforgettable anime screen shots and relives the young SnippetTee as she tries to verbalize her ideas. Now, as I write this post, lots of great memories are overflowing in my head that my fingers can’t even keep up with this sudden rush of thoughts.

Afterthoughts on Mawaru Penguindrum: Apples and Its Symbolisms

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apple, Himari, Himari Takakura, Kiga Apple, Mawaru Penguindrum, Shouma, Shouma Takakura

Apple is arguably the most symbolic fruit in history. It’s no wonder why Mawaru Penguindrum heavily uses this fruit to symbolize salvation and humanity. The apple acquired symbolic significance because it is one of the oldest fruits gathered by man. For so many of years, these fruits have been linked with tales, stories and myths of love, sensuality, fertility, and temptation especially in the case of the red apple. And in most cases, this fruit appeared in many religious traditions of then being portrayed as a forbidden or mystical fruit.

As what Mawaru Penguindrum always addresses, one of the key symbolisms of apple on this series is the wheel of fate. This fruit’s spherical shape was occasionally interpreted as a symbol of eternity. As of now, we have no idea whether the Kiga apple brings perpetual salvation or everlasting misfortune; however as exemplified by Momoka’s fate, we do know that there’s always going to be a sacrificial lamb (the one below the wheel) in order to reverse one’s fate (the one above the wheel).

The Rise and Mystery of Delusional Love in Mawaru Penguindrum

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Amor Fati, delusion, Destiny, Erich Fromm, Fate, Himari, Kanba, Love, Masako Natsume, Mawaru Penguindrum, Nietzsche, penguin, Ringo, Ringo Oginome, Shouma, Tabuki, Takakura, yuri

Have you ever remembered those days when witches were “so not”, but then now they’re “so hot”? Pretty much this is the same trend that I’m noticing on Mawaru Penguindrum. Who would’ve thought that Ringo and Masako would redefine the art of stalking? Indeed, stalkers used to be “pervy-ugly-dirty-guys” but now they evolved into “sexy-hot-kicking-gals.” Because of them, instead of being excited for the next “romantic” love scene, viewers now craved for the subsequent “delusional” love vista.