Veith Ghost in the Shell

It seems like Japanese anime films are often based around a philosophical obsession with souls, the sense of self, the meaning of life, and how the internet affects these things. At least, that's the implication I got from Perfect Blue, Akira, and Ghost in the Shell. Each of these films relate to one another because each focuses on a main character in confusion of why he or she is alive and what he or she is meant to do.

Each character's identity is somehow affected by technology. Mima is confused about her own actions and personality because of what someone else says about her on the internet. Tetsuo is overcome by the power of government control of technology, and ends up morphing into a giant, pulsating, baby-shaped pile of enlarged veins and intestines. And, quite honestly, I'm still confused buy Ghost in the Shell, but Major Motoko is not really a human. Her actions are completely computer-operated, because really she is a computer.

Well. What does all this mean? Tbh, I don't know, nor do I care, really. I enjoy the films because they are action-filled and look cool. I hate philosophy and I don't like to think about who I am or what I'm living for. However, my boyfriend likes philosophy for whatever reason and his analysis of Ghost in the Shell is interesting. I'm going to attempt to paraphrase it. Generally stating, the human race believes in a greater being or power or whatever. We humans are eternally trying to know what this greater being maybe, so we are forever trying to advance our society. This is how technology came to be. I suppose that Akira and Ghost in the Shell sort of exemplify the extremes of what may happen if the human race ever understands such a great power through means of technology. That is why they are so frickin' confusing! Perfect Blue is more about a female individual's struggle, and I can relate to it better.

Directly after I saw Perfect Blue, something strange happened to me. I got stuck on an elevator alone for about an hour. During that time, I contemplated my existence. I was alone with my thoughts and I began to question my personality, my relationships with others, and why I was alive; why the elevator chose me to trap. In other words, I felt crazy. WHO AM I? EXCUSE ME, WHO ARE YOU?

hehe