[AGRR] Shoujo Cliché: The OTHER Man – What About Him?
Why is he even there?
The 3rd Round-Robin topic is this:
The concept of “the other guy” in shoujo plot lines: In a shoujo cliché, the main couple faces many obstacles on their way to TRULUV. One of these obstacles is “the other guy”. And “this other guy” happens to embody all the qualities of the ideal male. And yet in the end, he is rejected for the original guy, even despite the original guy being an asshole, hurting the girl with his antics, and having blatant flaws.
First of all, I’ve never really enjoyed shoujo anime because I hate cliché shit – I prefer watching unpredictable shows because most typical happenings bore me stiff, and I like anime with a large cast so that the plot just doesn’t revolve around a couple of characters I might eventually get fed up with. And that’s why it’s rare for me to pick up a shoujo series, simply because although you get some sweet romance (er, corny much?), everything eventually becomes no fun, the ending pairing becomes obvious and the main female lead grows irritating. I still can’t believe I’ve seen all of Fruits Basket and actually didn’t die of boredom watching it.
So Tohru chooses Kyo in the end over Yuki. Of course, Tohru probably chose him because he needs her more than Yuki does, so would you call this love with a tad of sympathy, or just pure love? I hate guys that act like jerks, like Kyo, but heck, in anime you don’t really give a crap – you think they’re cute since they can be sooo good-looking – but in real life they are in fact, extremely annoying (oh, I know alright). Perhaps Tohru really did choose Kyo because he’s so opposite to her and he holds so many issues, and maybe that’s also what attracted her to him. Somewhat like Tohru, I believe that there’s good in everyone no matter how bad they are, but while trying to unveil Kyo’s “mask”, Tohru may have stumbled across this innocent and lonely side of him that made her realize how much happiness she could give him, be it a lover or a friend or rape. Perhaps, when we offer happiness to others, we feel so much more worthy and accepted in society that the person we can make so happy in life is the person we’d rather live the rest of our lives with.
For sure if a guy pisses me off, I wouldn’t even take another step near him. I’d perhaps try to help him some time if I’m certain that there’s some issues in his life, but will definitely end up giving up, or I’d just let him figure his own problems out. It ticks me to see people acting like shit to others because of what’s happened to them in the past (get over it already), but my life’s not that bad either, so I have no real say I suppose, and I guess if you’ve been so badly treated way back, it’s understandable too. I really don’t understand how long such a thin plot (typical shoujo) can drag out for, and why the two main guys can be so alike in all shoujo series all the time? Why does there have to be a “nice” guy – why can’t one be super intellectual and the other real sporty? Yeah, I don’t think it’d work out nicely either.
I think the purpose of the “other” guy is to show that even hopeless assholes have a chance of getting a love life and that being “nice” doesn’t mean that you’ll get everything you want. The “nice” guy shows more understanding and is prepared to accept the fact that the girl he’s in love with is happier with the asshole guy because she can offer more to him than she could ever do for the “nice” guy. The “other” guy is also there to create competition and increase fangirlism, debate among viewers about who the main chick will end up choosing, and to get people like me angry that the assholish guy gets picked by the girl instead. The “other” guy can also be there to make us pity feel sorry for him, and well, a shoujo wouldn’t be a shoujo if the “other” guy isn’t in it. Eventually, the “other” guy always moves on and it’s a message for those people in similar situations that just because you think she’s the one, the world may not agree with you. I always think after watching a shoujo cliché: Why the asshole? He treats you like shit, so why? Is it because assholes are more risky in life, that they are dangerous, exciting and because they don’t care what others think of them, which makes these girls feel more comfortable around them and not embarrassed?
In Naruto, Sakura is obsessed with Sasuke even though he acts real cold to her. Why is this so? I’ve no bloody idea – like I said, how could you like someone without really knowing them, plus the fact that they couldn’t care less about you? That’s just insane … but I’ll be dead honest that if I watch an anime, see a badass guy, I may go head-over-heels in love with him, but it’s totally different from real life. You know, perhaps it’s because the mangaka likes the badass guy so they let the chick end up with him and ditch the “nice” guy. If you look deeper into a shoujo cliché, then you may get this message that the badass represents the sinful people, the “nice” guy represents the rightful people, and the main chick represents a saviour. Because really, who is it that needs more help? The sinful or the rightful – like Jesus who reached out to those who need healing, like Jesus who ate with a tax collector? We donate to the poor, not the rich. We help the blind, not those who can already see. The “other” “nice” guy is content, and besides, he probably knows that he deserves better than the girl who left him for the asshole guy.
When I am far less braindead than I currently am, I will leave an intelligent comment on here… in the meantime, I went “ZOMG UTENA!!1″ when I saw the girl in the picture from Haruka with the pink hair and green eyes.
A Day Without Mes last blog post..Sexual Harassment and Rape in the World of Anime: The Follow-up
Hey blissmo,
I got your email. Glad you decided to participate in this round. You’re right. Assholes in manga/anime are glorified to the max so that their vices are overlooked in favor of their pretty faces and Bad Boy attitudes. That kind of one-track mentality gets perpetuated in high school shoujo series where the girls all have crushes on THE BAD BOY, even though they don’t know jack shit about the type of person that he is or what his values are. They just see a pretty face and their hearts are sent fluttering. *rolls eyes* In real life, that kind of logic doesn’t fly. An asshole is an asshole, period. And when it comes down to it, looks aren’t everything. I wouldn’t bother sticking around a guy who puts me down and makes me feel bad about myself, regardless of how “hot” or “cool” he is. People need to realize that they deserve so much more than the bullshit and problematic idealisms that these series depict. Good post, epic rant =]
PS – I got a new blog.
Have you seen Nana yet? Go see Nana.
21stcenturydigitalboys last blog post..Blatant Filler
I rooted for TohruxYuki in Fruits Basket. Like you, I also do not enjoy the cliche of a girl ending up with the a-hole character. Which is why I refuse to read 90% of the shoujo manga out there. Which is also why Paradise Kiss is one of my favourite manga for breaking this trend.
I think part of the appeal of a-hole guys in general is the possibility of becoming their one-and-only intimate partner and friend. When a good-looking a-hole guy only confides in you and you alone, it gives you this superior feeling, a feeling that this guy is dependent on you. I think the prospect of feeling good from this dependency is one of the things that drive girls to fall for them in the first place.
@A Day Without Me:
Who’s that lols, I just took any nice image I could find
@itsubun:
Thanks for telling me about the new site! And I totally agree with you about the guys, I think jerks can sometimes be turn-offs lols
@21stcenturydigitalboy:
Of course, the live action movie that is. But the second one got worse because innocent Nana wasn’t cute any more.
@Asuka:
I should pick up Paradise Kiss then. Any chance of there being some blood in it? And I suppose when some jackass treats you differently, you feel special too.
Tohru married beneath her, all women do.
Yup. The ‘other guy’ is to pull the male character out of his comfort zone and actually feel threatened by his presence.
The Sojourners last blog post..Gender Bending The World of Suzumiya Haruhi
And this is why I hate assholes. Because I’m not one myself.
Alright, maybe I can be one sometimes.
doubles last blog post..A Minute Of Otaku Talk In Japanese Class
It seems that blissmo is immune to shoujo then =3
My theory is that the reason that the girl always ends up with the asshole is because it gives real guys some positive reinforcement that if an asshole like THAT can do it,why not me?Rather than Mr.Perfect stealing the show and crushing the dreams of countless men.Of course this means I’m implicitly implying that most guys are assholes then lol.
What’s even worse is that she HAS to choose someone. I haven’t heard of any shoujo anime/manga that ends with the girl choosing neither of her suitors (kind of silly to reduce all of shoujo to romance, but whatever). This is further hegemonic influence and sustains the bourgeoise hegemonic that women are, in the end, property. Pretty depressing outlook I must say-
Kaiserpingvins last blog post..Go-jasu, Derishasu, De-Hallo!
I’ve only ever seen shojo Anime and manga where the nice guy ends up with the girl, even though he’s quite meek, he wins the heart of the girl.
But the manga and Anime romances I read are usually aimed at men and involve girls with magical powers sometimes…
Jacob (New Geek Philosopher)s last blog post..A Matter of Taste
@ Kaiserpingvin: Escaflowne? Borderline case, but arguably a ‘chooses neither’ example.
IKnights last blog post..Those Magnificent Men In Their Fighting Machines
She chose Kyo? That is totally karma hahahaha.
I always wondered if one-sided love was a safe way to be all gushy without worrying about actually putting the work into a relationship. Sorta like a luvluv practice dummy.
Kabitzins last blog post..Summer 2008
[...] Ria – GOOD BOY v.s BAD BOY Blissmo – [AGRR] Shoujo Cliché: The OTHER Man – What about him? [...]
@ blissmo – Why, Utena is the heroine of Revolutionary Girl Utena (Shoujo Kakumei Utena), an anime I must now insist you go forth and watch.
A Day Without Mes last blog post..Sexual Harassment and Rape in the World of Anime: The Follow-up
[...] off if you haven’t already checked it out you might want to read Hinano’s post on this. Blissmo’s post on this Saimaisama’s post on this Ria’s post on [...]
I have very little of value to add to the conversation, so I’ll just say: You tend to get people claiming Jesus metaphors in just about every genre of art, but shoujo anime? I have to hand it to you blissmo, I never would have thought it.
I do agree with Kabitzin about one-sided love though. Going back to your earlier RR post about escapism, anime would be a terrible bit of escapism if it showed the ins and outs of working through an actual relationship, so it always seems to take the ol’ unrequited route.
otou-sans last blog post..Chocolate Underground Imminent?
[...] Yukan Blog – http://yukan.dasaku.net/?p=612 [...]
Nice article, I think I’ll have to catch up on some older ones.
And gorgeous pictures too, which anime are they from? Especially the 3rd picture, with the 5 girls, looks interesting. Anyone?
I try to save myself the meltdowns these days and read shoujo where there isn’t necessarily a bad guy Poor Hubby had to listen to me fangirling over the cuteness in Koukou Debut the other night.
I read shoujo because I want something nice and fluffy after a long crappu workday. So reading about a girl losing all her brain cells to get with some guy who’s probably going to abuse the crap out of her is not my idea of fun.
Nice post, I totally agree with why Tohru chose Kyo. I also feel in her case its a self-esteem issue, since she’s so meek. She probably never even considered the princely Yuuki really, because she feels beneath him.
Of course that frustration is another discussion, I hate the pathetic, come save me, chasing after cute guy, I’m not good enough for the bishie, type of heroine. I want the heroine to kick some ass and take no prisoners ^-^
sakuras last blog post..Umineko no naku koro ni Ep 2 part 4
@double:
Nope, your an ass all the time — kidding~
@Makoto:
Definitely immune. I understand that it gives guys like that some chances, but I wonder what it says about the girl?
@Kaiserpingvin:
You’re right! I would’ve chosen the third guy then.
@Jacob (New Geek Philosopher):
LOL, magical powers. That’s awesome.
@Kabitzin:
luvluv practice dummies exist? I never knew that …
@A Day Without Me:
It’s not … shoujo … is it?
@otou-san:
Why thank you, lols, and yeah, I suppose the escapism part is true too
@tealovertoma:
I don’t know where I get my images from XD
@ blissmo – Well, technically yes, but to deem it as only such would be doing a severe disservice to the show. In actuality, it is a fairly dark and morally complex show that starts off seemingly pink and sparkly and ends in a flurry of surrealism and sexual politics. I cannot recommend it enough; it’s one of the very, very few anime that I think pretty much every fan over fifteen should go watch.
A Day Without Mes last blog post..Sexual Harassment and Rape in the World of Anime: The Follow-up
The only reason I can think why any woman would choose an asshole over a nice guy is that maybe the woman in question thinks that at the time, “Oh, well I’ll mess around with the bad guy because he’s more exciting and seems to have more of a personality. If we break up, the good guy will just pick me up.” Unfortunately, a lot of women think this way, I used to be one of them, but I got my shit together and decided not to go out with the dickweed. Something else that anime doesn’t seem to portray very much is how giddy most girls get when they realize they are in a love triangle/other polygon. This giddyness leads to poor judgement and less bloodflow to the brain causing them not to think things out very carefully.
[...] Shoujo Cliché: The OTHER Man – What About Him? Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)growing old?Itazura na Kiss, ep. 1: I hate stupid girls.Quick update about the anime I’ve been watching :-p [...]
[...] Shoujo Cliché: The OTHER Man – What About Him? [...]
@Christina:
Thanks for being really honest! And I can see where you’re coming from because it happens in films too I suppose.
@A Day Without Me:
Haha, okay, I might check it out though since I’m on holidays right now XD
@ blissmo – DO ITTT!!!
This is pushing me to actually get started on my Utena series review XD And then I’m going to link back to this post so you feel obligated (maybe?) to read is >=D
A Day Without Mes last blog post..Sexual Harassment and Rape in the World of Anime: The Follow-up
@A Day Without Me:
Haha, yay! Then I’ll definitely read it!
“I don’t know where I get my images from XD”
^^; wait… how does that work?
I find so many awesome pictures on this blog and I thought I saw/knew a lot of anime…
@tealovertoma:
Haha, I meant that I don’t know what they are, I just choose them. I go to http://danbooru.donmai.us, http://pixiv.net and http://deviantart.com and type in w/e in the search place
I know I’m late but WTF? Live action Nana? And… innocent nana? LIES! Nana was never innocent! The whole story starts with her fucking a married man!
EDIT: Now that I read the rest WATCH UTENA. It’s a show that everyone NEEDS to see. Honestly, if someone didn’t like Utena, I could never respect them : O
21st Century Digital Boys last blog post..I SHAT MOAR BRICKS
@Tealovertoma
If you still care to know, that image is from a game called Vocaloid, the character to the right is Hatsune Miku, the most popular character from that game. And I’m sorry if this disapoints you, but only 3 of the 5 characters in that image are girls. :s
(The two on the left are the guys).
The simplest explanation is that girls are evil.
[...] Comments newgeekphilosopher on Be Kind, RewatchBaka-Raptor on [AGRR] Shoujo Cliché: The OTHER Man – What About Him?21st Century Digital Boy on Be Kind, Rewatchblissmo on Double Arts 14blissmo on Macross Frontier – [...]
[...] Blissmo [...]
in the end of the manga kyo was more like a nice guy than an asshole.
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