dystopia akira
TRANSCRIPT
Dystopia AKIRA
Presented by: Jarrett Gold, Tri VuGeneve Settle, & Sedta Chandravongsri
OverviewThe film, Akira depicts a dystopian version of Tokyo in the year 2019. Thirty-one years after World War III and the authority of Neo-Tokyo is in a constant war with the people of Tokyo.
The idea of Dystopia is shown throughout Akira, by the nature of corruption, the struggle with balancing power, and the lack of maintaining the community.
The presentation will explore how Dystopia is shown in the film and how it changed traditional Japanese systems.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05i9YMvn46M
Overview Cont’d.
Contributions
Jarrett Gold- Presentation outline, Historical Context, Discussion Questions
Sedta Chandravongsri- Presentation outline, Overview, Dystopian Setting and Themes
Geneve Settle- Presentation outline, Introduction, Video clip, and Nuclear Warfare.
Tri Vu- Presentation Outline, Issues Addressed, Dystopian Setting and Themes, and Popular Culture Production.
IntroductionFilm Summary:Akira is a 1988 Sci Fi film based off of Katsuhiro Otomo’s manga series. The film is set in the Dystopian city of Tokyo in the year 2019. The original Tokyo was destroyed by a nuclear bomb in World War III. Civil unrest sweeps the city, the government and military are corrupt, and teenage rebellion is rampant. The film begins with Tetsuo getting into a brawl with a clown, this leads him to access his psychic ability and run into an encounter with an Esper ( a psychic child with an elderly physical appearance.) When taken into custody of the government, Tetsuo’s brain waves are tested and compared to the brain waves of Akira, which happen to be the exact opposite of Tetsuo. Tetsuo uses his power throughout the film to try and reach Akira, who is nothing but a bunch of body parts in test tubes under the olympic stadium. Instead of using his power for good, Tetsuo uses it with hopes to find Akira and gain respect, which he feels that he deserves as the underdog of of his group. Tetsuo’s abuse of power causes a large amount of destruction throughout the film, and ultimately leads to the destruction of Neo-Tokyo. Tetsuo’s best friend Kaneda, along with the Espers try to stop him and influence him to use his powers for good.
Video Clip
This video perfectly gives off the feeling of the movie Akira. It also
shows the visually stunning atmosphere and Dystopian setting
for the film. This clip gives more insight on how Tetsuo, the boy with
psychic abilities, causes destruction to Neo-Tokyo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8NC5ZKx8Yo
VS.
Akira World War II
Historical Context
Historical Context
The time is August, 1945, approaching the end of World War II. Hiroshima and Nagasaki Japan, have received the first ever atomic bombs in warfare killing around 200,000+ citizens. Prior to this, Japan had faced firebombing raids by the allied forces causing massive destruction and killing even more Japanese citizens. World War II had finally ended and it seemed the conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union was not over. As a result, the Cold War had begun just a couple years after World War II. Jumping forward to 1982, the Cold War had not slowed its pace and this conflict was in full effect putting fear in many across the globe. These ideas of nuclear war breaking out at any moment was a common sense to citizens in the United States, Russia, and Japan. Katsuhiro Otomo being alive this time created the piece of art called Akira, showing some of these themes and more in his work.
Nuclear Warfare
The theme of nuclear warfare is a recurring one in Akira. The city of Tokyo is destroyed by a nuclear bomb in a fictional World War III. The city of Neo-Tokyo is then destroyed by a similar explosion set off by Tetsuo.
The explosions were a cause of ultimate destruction, but they also symbolized a new beginning. After the first explosion, the government was able to rebuild the city of Tokyo and build an even bigger and better city, Neo-Tokyo. At the end of the film, Tetsuo sets off an explosion that destroys the city of Neo-Tokyo. During the explosion Tetsuo states, “I am Tetsuo” and a new universe is created.
Issues Addressed
Cause of Tetsuo’s Psychopathic● Orphaned● Government Tested● Bullied● Feeling like the underdog of the biker gang● Constantly overshadowed by his best friend Kaneda
Solution/ Lesson Learned● When poorly treated someone, they more likely to live in anger● Peace in return when we treated kindly or helped others● With great power comes great responsibility● Secrecy causes more pain than help
Dystopian Setting & Themes● City Neo of Tokyo in 2019● Contains:
o Protests/Civil Unresto Military active on streets o Gangso Terrorists o Corrupted education system o Government working in secrecyo Cyberpunko Tetsuo’s God complex o Destruction
Popular Culture: Production● Comic Book Series
(Japanese manga)o Started in December 6th, 1982
and finished in June 11th, 1990.
o Currently, a complete set would cost about $150.
Popular Culture: Production● Kaneda on Motorcycle
(Deluxe Boxed Set)o Released in September 2001o The current price for this unit is
$130 o The motorcycle is fast and cool
looking in the film. Character Tetsuo is also like Kaneda’s motorcycle, he once rode it without Kaneda’s permission.
Popular Culture: Production● In addition realistic of Kaneda’s motorcycle:
Build by Mr. Tejima (the owner of the vehicle), and Mr. Ushijima (president of the BSU motorcycle shop).Made in Japan.
It produced with officially approved by the author Mr. Otomo, and appeared in the Katsuhiro Otomo Genga Exhibition
Discussion Questions Film Questions:
● Seeing how Tetsuo's psychic abilities have the capabilities similar to that of a nuclear bomb, do you think the setting and time frame of the film effectively portray these ideas? Or would these ideas work better in a World War II setting? Why?
● If Tetsuo used his psychic abilities for good how would telepathic abilities do so? ● Because of the way Tetsuo was raised and his experiences, (orphaned, involved with a gang)
would his use of power be any different? Topic Questions:
● How do the issues addressed in Akira relate and compare to the post World War II issues of today?
● Does the Dystopian theme fit for the film? Or could the film be just as effective in a present setting or even 1980’s setting? Why?
● Seeing how the government kept secrets of telepathic abilities in the film Akira, how is this similar to the way government in modern society works in secrecy?
Bibliography● Ojalvo, Holly E. "Historic Headlines: World War II." The Learning Network Historic Headlines World War II
Comments. N.p., 31 Aug. 2010. Web.● Koo, Angie, and Betrice Yambrach. "Exhibit :: Disasters and Rebuilding in Japan: Perspectives and Testimonies from the
Tri-Co Collection." Exhibit :: Disasters and Rebuilding in Japan: Perspectives and Testimonies from the Tri-Co Collection. Swarthmore, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2014.<http://www.swarthmore.edu/library/exhibitions/japan/essays/vision1.php>.
● Pontius, Jake. "The Technology of Dystanimepia: Human Relationships with Technology in Osamu Tezuka’s Metropolis and Akira."
● Standish, Isolde. "Akira, postmodernism and resistance." The worlds of Japanese popular culture: Gender, shifting boundaries and global cultures(1998): 56-74.