2011-10-05, 17:27 | Link #81 | |
Seishu's Ace
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kyoto, Japan
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2011-10-05, 18:05 | Link #82 |
~Official Slacker~
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Xanadu
Age: 30
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So typically, the reason Taichi bullied Arata was because of two aspects?
One: When he felt confident of his abilities to remember the 100 poems and Chihaya only able to remember 50. Finding out that he's not the only big player in the class with the announcement of Arata's ability to remember all 100 poems as well probably struck him. Two: Taichi only became interested in the subject of bullying Arata when Chihaya started showing more concern over him. But also because he was jealous of Chihaya's close attachment to Arata over the course of time. But also with a little concern of "If you join Arata, you will become unpopular as well." in which he tried to prevent Chihaya from taking that route. Now, in the present time. Taichi probably wanted to make amends with Chihaya for saying all those mean things when they were kids possibly? At the train station, when Chihaya found out that Taichi had a girlfriend. The somewhat depressed look on Chihaya probably made Taichi feel bad for himself for the after-effects, but then Arata came up and it turned around? Interesting first episode, will wait for more to see what will happen.
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2011-10-06, 07:30 | Link #88 |
Mmmm....
Join Date: Sep 2006
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This is a pretty interesting (although written in 1996) read about Karuta.
"The action gets particularly tense towards the end of every game, when the number of cards left in play is small, and it is then that the player with the fastest reflexes will triumph. Top champions are thus usually fairly young, still with good reaction times, but it is fascinating to watch a competition involving quite elderly ladies. They slowly fold themselves into place before their cards, stretch lazily, chat a bit with their neighbours ... but once that poem is recognized ... it is as though a snake has darted out from each kimono sleeve!" |
2011-10-06, 13:39 | Link #90 | ||
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Join Date: Dec 2005
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- Taichi sees Chihaya talking to Arata. - Taichi gets angry and slams the door on his locker. - Short cut. - Taichi pushes Arata in a direct parallel to the previous shot. - Taichi gets hurt and defensive as Chihaya reacts. There's no concern here at all, and the only character to even suggest bullying Chihaya is Taichi himself. In context, this talk of "ostracism" is less a warning than it is a threat. It's a very simply composed and effectively directed scene so there isn't a whole lot of room for ambiguity. Quote:
noitaminA has become a haven for shows like Black Rock Shooter nowadays.
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2011-10-06, 15:45 | Link #91 | ||
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The first is at 09:11, and the second is at 12:58. In my opinion, there's a look of concern in Taichi's eyes in both of those scenes. I get a distinct sense that the gears are turning in Taichi's head, and he's thinking about what Chihaya's increased focus and friendliness towards Arata could mean for her if she continues it. His appearance in these scenes strike me more as sober concern than outright jealousy. So when he sees that Chihaya is now approaching Arata to talk with him, Taichi decides that he needs to put a stop to this before Chihaya gets herself into trouble (as Taichi sees it). The sequence you reference is straightforward, but what came before it is important, and places it in a certain context. Now, it's possible that my interpretation isn't completely right here, but I do think that the anime allows for it at least. Quote:
"Drama" constitutes something more, well, dramatic than simple daily living, imo.
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Last edited by Triple_R; 2011-10-06 at 16:13. |
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2011-10-06, 18:05 | Link #92 | |
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Austria
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Now, Taichi obviously likes Chihaya, and it's very hard to believe that her enthusiasm, kindness and spirit isn't part of why he likes her. But that very aspect also makes her a reputation hazard. It's very clear that Taichi worries a lot about reputation (example: the first thing he says to Chihaya when they meet at the start of the episode is about what she's called at school). Chihaya is clearly aware that her motor-mouth hurts people, and when Taichi intervenes in those situations, it's actually a welcome opportunity to make amends. But when it comes to reputation, more precisely in-group membership brownie points (I have to say that, because she is excited about her sister's frontpage appearance, which is also a form of reputation), she's just oblivious and has no internal understanding why that's important. She can see the results, though. So, Taichi's perspective is valuable to her. When it comes to Arata, though, there is a clash of priorities. Basically, a trait where they usually complement each other is now a source of conflict, because Arata threatens their reputation (and thus their "place" in class). So when Taichi tries to get Chihaya to abandon Arata, this simply not an option for Chihaya ("I didn't think you were so mean," or something to that effect). I'm pretty sure that deep down Taichi actually agrees with Chihaya, and Chihaya knows that. So she's not taking his threat seriously, when she's telling him "fine". But Taichi has been primed for rivalvry, ever since the guy also memorised 100 poems. And now he's talking to Chihaya. Is he ursurping his place? Is this the new-comer to kick him out of the life that he treasures? At that moment, Chihaya's reaction must confirm that fear. The emotional reaction is paradox: Arata represents at once the outsider who contaminates them with outsider-weirdness, and the rival outsider who seeks to change places with him. And he has just lost an important (if not decisive) battle. All that frustration lies in that push against Chihaya, who's more suprisded than upset at that - she realises that there are deeper issues than she thought. Socially speaking, Chihaya is looking outwards, whereas Taichi is looking inwards. This makes it hard for Chihaya to "belong", but easy for her to make individual friends. Taichi is pretty much the opposite. This must have caused awkward situations before (and, I'm sure, they complement each other well, too). But here it broke out first full tilt. The potential-girlfriend type of jealousy is certainly prominent in the scene - but for Taichi much more is at stake. It's existential. So what's behind Taichi's behaviour in the rain that day? 1. A sense of belonging threatened by the newcomer, either by being tainted with the mark of the outsider, or by being supplanted by the same. (A paradox and confusing situation) 2. A behavioural pattern between Chihaya and himself, where he balances her socially hazardous impulsivness - which usually benefits her (so why shouldn't it, this time, too?) 3. A fear of losing Chihaya to "the other guy" (1) is the most abstract, and (3) is the most concrete in that situation. This is why I absolutely agree that the situational motive is jealousy. It's obvious. But I do agree that context is important. Taichi isn't just being jealous. There's more to it. And concern for Chihaya is certainly part of it (it takes, I think, the shape I summarised in (2) above). Of course, I have only one episode to go on, and I've only seen it once. So who knows what I've been missing, and what relevant information I don't have? |
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2011-10-06, 20:01 | Link #94 | |
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As for "childhood friendship in danger", we already know that this friendship doesn't end due to the first half of the episode. This is simple daily living, imo, and there's nothing wrong with that. Kids go through disputes with their friends and peers all the time. Kids meet new kids every time they go to new schools, or new kids come to their school. It's a basic part of life. And that's a big part of the reason why I call it "slice of life". When I think "drama", I think about overarching conflicts that are much more intense than this. Chihayafuru might develop into that, but it's not there yet, imo.
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Last edited by Triple_R; 2011-10-06 at 20:28. |
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2011-10-06, 23:15 | Link #97 |
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Tokyo
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For those who would like to know more about Karuta, the card-game featured in this anime, this approx. 30 minutes video with English narration would serve you well.
Begin Japanology (Karuta Card Games) 20100115 English http://www.veoh.com/watch/v20113674c78ZJT6q |
2011-10-06, 23:20 | Link #98 | |
Banned
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Now to the show, I liked the first episode, despite the shoujo character designs... but I have a problem with these "sport" anime, I have yet to see one that combines the sport with the plot. Here there is the additional problem, that the professional subbers will never translate the whole poem, and being poems, written in hiragana, there is no way I can manage to read them, let alone comprehend them. |
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2011-10-07, 18:22 | Link #100 | |||
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Join Date: Dec 2005
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In any case, the purpose of this flashback sequence is to cast Chihaya in the midst of a change in perspective (she referred to it as the time before she got her passion), Arata as the catalyst, and Taishi as an incidental character so far. The latter's motivations for his actions aren't all that important yet. Quote:
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Chihaya doesn't seem all that different from the prototypical shoujo lead. Then again, we haven't seen those all that often lately.
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josei, karuta, madhouse |
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