What is the ‘shojo’ and how does it often function in anime?
‘Shojo’ literally means “little female”. It usually refers to twelve to thirteen year old girls, a time where maturity is setting in and the transition from childish sexlessness to eroticism and sex. In also refers to the types of stories; shojo stories are set in dreamy landscapes that are magical and wonderful, not dark and violent like much anime science fiction. In Japan these shojo stories are enjoyed by females and males.
In most shojo stories the shojo character is depicted as being passive and inactive. Opposite, Miyazaki (director and writer of Princess Mononoke) depicts his shojo as active and fearless, violent even. Cavallaro quotes commentators as described them as “youths wearing shojo masks.” Due to a quote by the director that shojo are “play toys for Lolita complex guys” I’m lead to believe that the reason men enjoy the shojo stories is because of attraction to the young girls. However, Cavallaro also quotes Napier in saying that “unfettered change and excitement (of the shojo)… is far less available to Japanese males, who are caught in the network of demanding workforce responsibilities”. So perhaps they also enjoy it because they get to experience vicariously what they missed out on at that age, slowly exploring their own sexuality and the world without being rushed through life via school, chores, work and the constant aggravation of that future work life and career we all see towering ahead of us.
Hi, I not really certain about shojo anime associate with eriticism and sex, well not that I know of. I only know shojo anime are made with the aim to the young female audiences with plots lean more to newly developed love and romantic relationships. Also the pictures are originally drawn more soft and circular not like the edgy battle anime which aim for the boys to attract more female audiences.
ReplyDeleteAs anime consist of about 50% of air time in Japanese television. As a result, I agree it could be true that some other guys developed lolita complex too. =D
Hi Bex,
ReplyDeleteYour post looks really good, I like the way you have written it. I also like how you used Princess Mononoke as an example. but I think you need to remember you reference list :)