I’m not going to go on about the really deep messages such as media censorship, freedom of speech, so on and so forth. Instead, here’s something I don’t think any other fellow anime blogger has mentioned.
The white-collared workers in the library filing books are the same blue-collared workers out there fighting wars with their rifles. What is the meaning of this?
War is an undeniable fact that’s always happening in some of the world. It’s just whether it’s complicated enough for the worldwide media to find it worth covering. Most of these complicated wars begin not with the soldiers out in the fields, but with the people with power sitting behind their desks their chilly air-conditioned offices.
Most of the time, these guys make the decision without even experiencing the hardship and horror that war will bring. Declaring “Let’s go to war” is one thing, while actually going to war is actually an inverse experience. Ask any soldier with war experience about war, and he’ll probably state that he’ll never want to go through the horror of people facing death straight in it’s face again, unless he has a flaming passion for experiencing the death of people right before his very eyes.
I can’t help but think that Toshokan Sensou has the motive of criticizing war decisions in the real world. By combining the roles of both white-collared and blue-collared workers into the same character, I presume that it’s trying to send the message regarding how those white-collar decision makers should actually experience what the blue-collars are actually going through before making the decision of going to war over every single little thing.
Then again, it’s just anime, and it could just be me trying to make this sound thought-provoking when it actually might not be. I must admit though, no matter how entertaining the storyline of fighting wars over the possession of books is, it’s totally illogical. Scanners and e-books, anyone?
It’s never “just anime”, and you’ve actually touched upon an interesting point. I’m not sure whether or not it was the conscious decision of Arikawa Hiro and the Production I.G. adaptation team to do what you’ve described (especially given how the books/anime/manga are billed as satire about censorship), but considering that 99.999999% of analysis of literary works (literary here referring to any form of fictional storytelling, filmed, printed [text or images] or otherwise) is basically people making things up about the work in question, you’ve not really done anything “wrong” or “silly”.
To bring an example from outside anime, it’s like me reading the His Dark Materials series. Philip Pullman (the author) talks on and on about how his series is him raging against the Church and exposing its evils and such, and according to those who are substantially more devoted to organized Christian religion, this is a Bad and Horrible thing to do. Of course, I ignore all of this, and read the series for what it is: yes, it’s an indictment of organized religion, but by no means is it secular or hedonistic.
In other words, it’s not about what the creator(s) set out to do with it, it’s what you get out of it. Which is frequently wildly different than what the author wanted you to get out of it.
I never noticed until you pointed it out. NOW things make sense!
I’m not entirely sure whether you can analyze Toshokan Sensou in that way, but you’ve definitely brought up some important points.
For me, it’s all about media censorship and how something as simple - or what’s usually taken for granted - as information and the transmission of information, can erupt into a war.
And the curious thing is, the public is never seen to be actually really worried about the state of things. We only see the war from the POV of the people fighting for or against their causes, but never the people on the sidelines.
*SPOILERS*
e.g. when the gun was fired at the boy who snuck past the guards, we don’t see any reaction from the boy (though we do see his siblings go “WTF!!! T___T”), rather it’s a wholly concentrated portrayal of Dojou’s reaction.
*END SPOILERS*
Wait, what blue collars?
Notwithstanding though, you bring up an interesting point. But I hate looking too deep into my entertainment. =/
It sells, it profits. What any other reasons Production I.G chose to bring this fast-selling novel to screen? With it’s “unique” and “original” story, people are bound to captivated by it, make speculations of it. Yup, war shouldn’t be taken lightly of, people should pray that they are safe, protected from it.
It’s one thing for a series to carry a social message; it’s another thing entirely for it to ram that message down your throat.
I’m glad Toshokan Sensou doesn’t do the latter. Social commentaries are well and good, but I don’t want my weekend entertainment spouting “let’s go green” or “save the world” or “just believe in yourself” messages like some cheap Disney flick. (Or the Matrix trilogy, with its shallow we’re-so-bloody-clever pseudo-philosophy.) Toshokan Sensou does a fine job of touching on serious issues while giving the viewer the freedom to shove them aside in favour of just sitting back and enjoying Iku’s antics.
It’s never a good idea to ignore the messages entirely, of course. But I value having the option to do so.
OGT > Glad to see someone who finds the point I pointed out interesting ^^
blissmo > Now you know =D
Soshi > What you stated about the people on the sidelines is really true. It’s worth some deep thought if one has the time.
Nagato > Blue collars are those who do the menial work.
KYPMbangi > War is screwed up. I believe the military should only go to war to protect the motherland. Only that reason justifies.
Diego > Toshokan Sensou is only as deep as the viewer sees it.
I didn’t watch Toshokan Senshou, but what Soshi says is true, and I do tend to agree with you on this double.
Indeed, it is politicians who should consider what it is like to fight in a war before making decisions involving lives.
Politicians go to war over misunderstandings/misinterpretations that challenge ideals or points of view, which, to a country and its people, can sometimes be worth lives, THAT sparks war.
I don’t believe in war, personally, I’d much rather prefer diplomacy than the deaths of many.
double, I’m saying I don’t recall seeing any blue collars. =p
@nagato , he meant the white collars vs the green collars. lol
Nagato > You’re trying to be funny, aren’t you? If that’s the case, I’m laughing, haha.
pp > There’s no such term as green collars, lol.
when i read the title, i thought it was about tokyo tosho…
I can understand why.
I’ve read some of the accounts of British soldiers who have just returned from their tours of duty in Afghanistan, fighting a low-intensity conflict against the Taliban, and while they are, of course, glad to be home (some of them with wounds or missing limbs), I get the general impression that they were all proud to have served their country to the best of their abilities.
Yes, war is horrible, but well-trained, professional soldiers generally would love nothing better than to serve in actual battle. It’s what they trained for, and the possible loss of life and limb is what they knowingly accept.
I get the feeling that the Library Defence Force in Toshokan Sensou feel the same way. A similar level of military professionalism seems to exist within the actual soldiers of the Media Improvement Force as well (not the splinter groups; those are just your troublesome ultra-right wingnuts).
Overall, the military forces in Toshokan Sensou have been portrayed in relatively positive light - a bias that the author, Hiro Arikawa is known for. In particular, the JSDF is closely linked to the Library Defence Force - it’s apparent that the LDF are using surplus JSDF equipment.
So, Toshokan Sensou is actually more pro-military than you’d at first realise. NOTE: pro-military, NOT pro-war.
And by making them “heroes of justice”, the protectors of civil liberties and the freedom of expression, Ms Arikawa is going the extra mile to express her fangurl love for the JSDF. :p