My thoughts on Elfen Lied
- Thread starter Ryucotsa
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Embedded for you. anyway, I'm not really sure. I enjoyed the series, and i never really try to look into stuff too deeply for fear of ruining.Ryucotsa said:
But its put together nicely.
Interesting point of view and I like a lot of the philosophical elements present in Elfen Lied, however, to be quite honest I feel that you might be reading into things a bit too much. While there is philosophy present, I don't think they're as blunt as you mentioned nor are they hidden in every action.
Don't get me wrong, this is a very interesting video and point of view you've presented, but I feel that at the core, Elfen Lied isn't about nihilism (quick side note: pretty sure it's pronounced "Nigh-ill-ism"), but rather a more simple subject of people shunning what they don't understand and those who are misunderstood's attempts to fight back and/or fit in with regular society.
However, I could be missing a giant portion of the themes here since I haven't finished the anime yet. Granted, I only have 2 more episodes to go before the end, but at this point, I see a different theme overall.
Oh and by the way... what's wrong with Nietzsche? I know his batshit crazy sister went and fucked with his works but his untampered writings are quite enjoyable. I also have yet to find any hipster who even knows who Nietzsche is, but that could just be me >.>
Don't get me wrong, this is a very interesting video and point of view you've presented, but I feel that at the core, Elfen Lied isn't about nihilism (quick side note: pretty sure it's pronounced "Nigh-ill-ism"), but rather a more simple subject of people shunning what they don't understand and those who are misunderstood's attempts to fight back and/or fit in with regular society.
However, I could be missing a giant portion of the themes here since I haven't finished the anime yet. Granted, I only have 2 more episodes to go before the end, but at this point, I see a different theme overall.
Oh and by the way... what's wrong with Nietzsche? I know his batshit crazy sister went and fucked with his works but his untampered writings are quite enjoyable. I also have yet to find any hipster who even knows who Nietzsche is, but that could just be me >.>
Not if something like <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.255659-Fargos-Author-Experiment-Bret-Easton-Ellis-American-Psycho>this belongs in the User Review section. I think it's fine, leaving it here. You think it should be moved, report the OP, and a mod will decide on the best course of action.Marik2 said:
It's a video "review", and since the OP is clearly inexperienced with the forums, he wasn't aware that you could embed said video. The second poster did this for him.Marik2 said:Well I dont know the guy just posted a link and said discuss.
So like thats suppose to be a review now these days?
It would be akin to me *just* posting my Dark Knight audio review, without all of the text. It would still be just fine to post, as it is a review.
If it actually was a post meant for discussion, posted in Off-topic, then it would be a failed post, because there isn't much to discuss. Here, this type of opening is fine in my eyes.
I think its just youJulianking93 said:
OT: I've only watched a cpl episodes of this show. My bro was huge into, couldnt get into but I may give it another chance. Like the vid btw.
The characters are helpless, and respond to those that threaten them with indiscriminate violence through their seemingly impossible power inviso-hand thingies.
In a way, it makes sense to me; when truly vulnerable and afraid, the only things on one's mind at that point are to disable them from abusing you. Even if its only physical or only emotional, real fear entails the possibility of your abuser using the other at their whim, so one wants them to be unable to reach and communicate with you. In this anime's case, killing fulfills these, albeit with severe consequences.
I'm disappointed in Elfen Lied because the vectors could have been used as a means of exploring people's most basic sense of fear and what it would be like if one were actually able to make the abuse stop at the moment it was occurring.
Instead, we get characters who are motivated to use their powers either because they've been downtrodden over their cat-ear-horn-things or because having pink hair makes you homicidal and/or sociopathic. I suppose what I'm saying is that they could have done so much more by focusing on the desperation of the abused rather than being an anime version of Carrie.
In a way, it makes sense to me; when truly vulnerable and afraid, the only things on one's mind at that point are to disable them from abusing you. Even if its only physical or only emotional, real fear entails the possibility of your abuser using the other at their whim, so one wants them to be unable to reach and communicate with you. In this anime's case, killing fulfills these, albeit with severe consequences.
I'm disappointed in Elfen Lied because the vectors could have been used as a means of exploring people's most basic sense of fear and what it would be like if one were actually able to make the abuse stop at the moment it was occurring.
Instead, we get characters who are motivated to use their powers either because they've been downtrodden over their cat-ear-horn-things or because having pink hair makes you homicidal and/or sociopathic. I suppose what I'm saying is that they could have done so much more by focusing on the desperation of the abused rather than being an anime version of Carrie.
This show always reminded me of Carrie too. Or atleast in regards to Lucy's childhood...Erana said:
...Which is why I'm surprised you didn't mention this when discussing "taking current satisfaction at the cost of future satisfaction".Ryucotsa said:
From the very moment that Lucy kills she sacrifices any hope of leading a normal human life for the satisfaction of getting revenge against the people who tormented her. Just like in Carrie.
Elfen Lied was never really that good though, it's just very, very effective. The whole show is basically emotional porn; The plot isn't really any good, and the lore is convoluted. But around every corner we're presented with something sad and heartwrenching, like a puppy being killed or an orphaned girl recalling the sexual abuse by her stepfather. And then there's the music. That opening theme is already enough for me to start bawling.
Elfen Lied doesnt simply tug at your heartstrings, it jerks them off.
Eh I dont know the video isnt really a "review" its not talking about the anime in a traditional sense(like talking about the voice acting and the script, etc) when reviewing anything.Marter said:It's a video "review", and since the OP is clearly inexperienced with the forums, he wasn't aware that you could embed said video. The second poster did this for him.Marik2 said:Well I dont know the guy just posted a link and said discuss.
So like thats suppose to be a review now these days?
It would be akin to me *just* posting my Dark Knight audio review, without all of the text. It would still be just fine to post, as it is a review.
If it actually was a post meant for discussion, posted in Off-topic, then it would be a failed post, because there isn't much to discuss. Here, this type of opening is fine in my eyes.
Its dissecting the philosophy in it and makes people look at it from a different perspective.
Well thats just me anyways.
Yeah I hope it gets the brotherhood treatment (and many other animes need that as well) and make the anime exactly like the manga.lapan said:
To suggest that one could read to deeply into ANYTHING is ridiculous. We wouldn't have starry night if someone hadn't thought to much about the landscape outside his window. We wouldn't have fight club if a guy hadn't thought to much about his co-workers being douche bags.Julianking93 said:
Also, for the record, both "NILE-ism" and "KNEEL-ism" are accept forms of the word.
Also, watch the last episode of the show, and tell me what Lucy gains for all her actions.
It may be that it's in text, but I'm getting a lot of defense from you right now.Ryucotsa said:
I'm not attacking you or your opinion, merely presenting another perspective to the media you're choosing to dissect and giving a different look on it.
The fun thing about philosophy is that there isn't just one way to look at things. It's really all subjective.
You show one person this, they'll see it differently than someone else, but does that make one opinion less valid than the other?
Your opinion of the show, to me, was reading in a bit too deeply for my tastes and I felt that even the writers of the show didn't think that much into their own material, but do I think you're an idiot for thinking the way you do? Of course not. It's your perspective and it's interesting to see another's viewpoint on things like this. However, to me, it doesn't seem like there's as much there as you pointed out. Hell, I'm a writer and I've had that happen before on some stories I've presented to people when really there's nothing there. Does that make them wrong to speculate? No, but it wasn't the given intention.
If I'm being defensive, it's not because I'm adamant about my view, it's because I'm adamant about the idea that nothing isn't worth deeper analysis. I've never been about trying to prove a point. But If I can generate a little thought, then I've made the world a better placeJulianking93 said: