ENGL 2011 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Japanese Literature, Japanese Values, Consumerism
14 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
Story of young girl, chiriro- common figure in japanese culture, shojo . Shojo is a figure who represents vulnerability- dominant in a lot of. Said to represent vulnerability/fragility of japan itself- economically, politically, etc. Chihiro is a vulnerable young girl but manages to take control of herself and gain strength- figure mediating anxieties about japan itself and its potential for economic recovery. Film makes reference to economic slowdown- deserted amusement park, father makes comment they built a lot in early 90"s then economy went bad and they shut down. Theme park is emblem of leisure and consumerism- disposable income, money to spend on fun- now that"s over. Liminality - period of transition between one state and another- latin word for threshold/door . Liminality in film- family moving to new home (in car, in middle of two), train to grandma"s house from bathhouse, long tunnel between car and theme park, bridge to bathhouse, the boiler room.
