Asperger’s Anime Blogger: Is it possible?
Is it possible for a blogger with Asperger’s Syndrome to interpret and review Anime properly?
New conundrums have emerged that make me question my abilities as an Anime blogger.
This quote from http://www.ghibliworld.com/news.html made me think long and hard about my entire career in not just Anime blogging, but my previous career in miscellaneous blogging doing movie and book reviews:
Suzuki said “I remember that young girl, but didn’t know her name was Yoko-chan…” Ishikawa replied “In a drame normal people never care about these slight matters, but Asperger syndrome patients can’t see the whole. They only see the segments.” Like in the old Japanese saying: seeing only a tree, but never the forest (木を見て森を見ず). The boy didn’t really watch the drama, but only watched the cars, buses and motorbikes. Ishikawa said “Asperger syndrome patients can’t read the atmosphere and often get into trouble with people around them. They never cure. They have to realize it and have to go along with it through their entire lives. If the parents try to cure it, it just gets worse.” Suzuki and Ishikawa talked some more about psychiatric diseases and psychology, but it was a bit abstract and less connected to Ghibli.
And what is even more disturbing is that they’re talking about an Asperger’s patient’s experience of watching My Neighbour Totoro, the very film I didn’t do justice to in my infamous review for Yukan Blog. I’m not just jumping to conclusions here. I’m about to reveal something about myself that may change your opinion of me, but it has to be said. I was diagnosed early with Asperger’s Syndrome, but I had no idea how it affected my ability and comprehension of visual media such as Anime. I always just did quick reviews of what I did understand from a movie, not realising there was more to the film that I “didn’t get”.
I believe this happened to me when I reviewed My Neighbour Totoro, but not only that, Wings of Honneamise too. How could this have happened to me without me realising it?
This is heavy stuff to find when you’re researching Studio Ghibli for homework on animation for Society and Culture. Especially when it’s fifth period and it’s the end of the day. Suddenly my entire life of watching movies makes sense. I only “got a movie” when I watched it several times over. Just like how I listen to a song over and over to figure out the lyrics and what it means.
In the example that the summary from Ghibli World pointed out, the Asperger’s patient couldn’t identify who the little girl in the back of the sidecar in this picture was, “Yoko-chan”. To tell you the truth the same thing happened to me when I watched the same movie. But why? Why would this happen?
Well, to illustrate the point, Asperger’s people view the world in fragments of sorts, their awareness of the world isn’t so much observed as one solid reality but little pieces one has to put together to make things make sense. And in the Asperger’s head, like mine, when they watch a movie there’s a lot going on to piece together, and some elements which are more visually stimulating or vivid are picked up on easier than more subtle things that may be forgotten about unintentionally. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to look at the back of a DVD cover to remember the name of a main character, even though I could easily identify who they were visually rather than what their name was.
HOWEVER! I’m not saying that Anime blogging to be done by Asperger’s Syndrome patients is impossible, I’m just saying it’s more difficult than it is for normal people. It’s hard enough making sense of people as it is, let alone understanding a form of animation from a culture that is significantly different.
But there’s something enjoyable in Anime for Asperger’s people, and it’s a very visually stimulating medium, with often unusual characters who they can identify with. Like Osaka from Azumanga Daioh. She might not be everybody’s idea of what Asperger’s Syndrome is, but to me she’s as Asperger’s as it gets in Anime. Characters like this give Asperger’s people somebody they can see themselves in, if only a little bit.
And isn’t that what everybody watches Anime for anyway, even without the moeness some people like?
edit from blissmo: thanks Pure Trance for the image above.
[...] 28, 2008 by newgeekphilosopher Asperger’s Anime Blogger: Is it possible? is my latest article for Yukan Blog about a subject that has been troubling me lately: can a person [...]
I think as long as you’re challenging yourself to do something that may be a bit on the harder side for you as opposed to everyone else who takes it for granted, and still derive enjoyment from it, that’s a big accomplishment in itself.
Plus Osaka is one hell of an awesome character to look up to
interesting post
it doesn’t let you off the hook for that totoro review, but it at least explains some things. Now I feel bad for being so rough at you. I shouldn’t, but i do. Whether you have Aspergers or OCD(me), it shouldn’t matter. If you can blog you can blog if you can’t then you can’t
This does explain somethings, although you shouldn’t lump your wings of honneamise review in with the totoro one. In the wings of honneamise review at least you made conclusions and looked for a deeper meaning, in the totoro one you just made a commercial for it.
@newgeekphilosopher
I got a conclusion for you.
You tend to try to blog multiple shows at once. Try taking 1 movie at a time or 1 show at a time. You don’t have to get the post out fast beacuse, as you may or may not know, this is yukan, the leisure blog. We won’t rush you for a review on whatever anime series or movies you chose to watch.
My second bit of advice is to try and challenge yourself even more. The line that said “if the parents try to cure it, it just gets worse.” is important to remember. If what I am about to tell you to attempt only worsens your condition then I wouldn’t recommend it any longer.
When blogging an episode or movie try to give a play-by-play of the show. You may even have to re-watch the show and pause it at times in order to write up what you remember. Of course, this will result in long ass posts but there you have your summary. And when I say “play-by-play” I don’t mean to tell every little detail, just the important parts. Like what they did or important reactions that might foreshadow a later event.
Once you have your “summary” you can go back at tell us how you liked the red motorbike, how the roar of the monsters scared you, and other various stuff that may have popped out for your syndrome. You don’t always have to look into an anime for some hidden message, it’s wonderful if you do, but just commenting on the cinematography is fine by any review reader. And we understand completely.
So, pick a show and stick with it. Stop this juggling between Wings of Honneamise, My Neighbor Totoro, Azumanga Daioh, and Speed Racer (Although I do love Totoro and Azumanga Daioh). Just a bit of advice and I hope it can help you out.
The thing about juggling Azumanga Daioh is that it can be used to explain a lot of things. Osaka is a lifesaver for explaining Asperger’s to Anime fans.
@newgeekphilopher
No, I’m just saying that those are the only shows you tend to talk about. Like a Gunam fan on a rant about which OVA is his favorite.
I see what you mean. But keep in mind I am watching the Speed Racer series for the first time and it’s why I’m covering it. I could talk about plenty of Anime that aren’t Azumanga Daioh, for example I am progressively reviewing Lucky Star episodes at my home blog.
If you want to see more variety in what I cover, then please say so. I’m talking about the ones I talk about because they’re the ones I’m watching right now. After I’ve completed watching and reviewing Speed Racer I’ll take on Evangelion perhaps, or even the R.O.D. TV series I haven’t seen yet.
God I wish I didn’t delete Love Hina off my hard drive, it would have been good to keep that for another day… ah, regrets…
@newgeekphilosopher
I feel ashamed and proud to say that I just recently started watching Neon Genesis Evangelion. Idc how much of a wuss Shinji is, this show has been completely awesome so far.
As for the R.O.D. TV series, I hear that sucked, but I sure did love the OVA so I plan to watch the TV series (which I have downloaded already).
My friend loves Love Hina, I’ll leave it at that.
I sort of see what you mean but I’m not sure that symptom of aspergers is as pervasive as you make it out to be. At least for me.
For example, the mood of Mushishi flew one hundred feet over my head and I didn’t like it at all. I did however, dig many other moods like those of True Tears and Kimi Ga Nozomu Eien. I use the term “mood” because it is how I perceive the “whole” vibe of anime when all pieces are put together.
This might not sound too flattering but the things you miss might not be caused by aspergers. It may perfectly well be a personal shortcoming. Or perhaps even more simply that the shows you dislike simply don’t appeal to your personality or character.
I think aspies require more motivation to piece together different stimuli. We can do it as good as anyone else but we just need something to put our attention towards it. We need to consciously expend some intelligence towards it.
Anyhow, I hope I helped.
[...] you can find some interesting things in the blogosphere, such as newgeekphilosopher’s take on Asperger’s and anime blogging. I didn’t know much about Asperger’s before and think that these kinds of people have [...]
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