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Are we the baddies? (i.imgur.com)
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[-] BeMoreCareful@lemmy.world 38 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

It's a not uncommon theme in anime: some large imperialist/war nation or one associated with fire or occupying Japan.

It's also worth noting that Japan had a history of imperialism and occupied a significant portion of the world around them not too long ago.

Japan has a pretty similar world view to us. I don't know a lot about Japanese culture, but I think a lot of its similarities contribute to anime's popularity in the US. We both have pretty rigid class structures, appreciate violence and capitalism and are enamored with technology.

I know that Avatar is American, perhaps I just wanted to air out a pet theory, however I think it's good for us to explore some of these assumptions with art and stories.

I think most of us aren't the baddies though.

[-] EvolvedTurtle@lemmy.world 19 points 7 months ago

To be fair Not all fire nation citizens are bad either

Usually when there's a imperialistic government it's very rarely every citizens fault

[-] BeMoreCareful@lemmy.world 6 points 7 months ago

A comforting/not comforting thought

I sort of believe that the vast majority of whoever from wherever would happily get along, but we still have wars.

[-] Wirlocke@lemmy.blahaj.zone 15 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Japan has a similar worldview to Americans because there's been multiple points in history where we brute forced our ways on them, conveniently at times where their old ways were losing faith.

Forcing Japans borders open while they remained isolated with outdated weaponry, and the end of WW2.

Capitalism was drilled into their culture until it's teeth sunk in and they had their economic boom.

[-] samus12345@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago

Japan went from feudalism to an emerging modern industrialized state in what, 40 years? Industrial Revolution speedrun.

[-] trafficnab@lemmy.ca 12 points 7 months ago

The irony of a diverse set of people from around the world talking about an American cartoon and in the same breath saying that American only knows war is not lost on me

The US cultural victory'd so hard that it's hard to recognize it sometimes

[-] Tlaloc_Temporal@lemmy.ca 10 points 7 months ago

Avatar is American, but it had fantastic cultural consultants.

this post was submitted on 24 Mar 2024
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