Post by angelina kurganska on Nov 12, 2015 6:04:56 GMT
Honestly, this story was very hard for me to read. The fact that it is manga definitely contributes a lot to it. Some people compared Barefoot Gen in the discussion with Grave of the Fireflies and it is what I immediately thought about as well. For me it was mostly the similarities between the attitudes of the neighborhood people that helped make the comparison. When you think about hard times it is often seen that people should stick together and help each other out. However in Barefoot Gen the Nakaoka family was completely shaded (except for the kindness of Mr. Pak). Similarly, in Grave of the Fireflies, although the family wasn't in the same situation (as in they haven't spoken out towards the war ethics), they were also mistreated because they were alone and without money and even their relatives couldn't worry about providing help. In this kind of situation value is put on surviving, and it is often forgotten that survival comes with compassion and helping others. Perhaps more so then believe in the war ethics, the neighboring families didn't want to lose face in front of the "higher authorities", like the commander, in hope that they will get some survival benefits. With this common knowledge these kind of situations can be avoided, but once again the war was run by these commanding people and there was no escape to that.
This also brings out a common aspect between Barefoot Gen and Prize Stock. The Nakaoka family could care less about the war because they realize that all it brings is suffering of the commoners. The family could get by by raising crops and running a simple business and other political aspects are of no concern to them. Similarly in Prize Stock, the village in which the protagonist and his family live is far out in the country side, even the government officials hardly recognize them as an independent town with people worth caring about. Yet they have befallen in the midst of the war rage with daily bombings, food shortages and so on.
The reason this story was hard for me to read, was just as for Grave of the Fireflies. I watched the movie at least 10 times so afar and each time I couldn't stop crying during the movie, even though I rarely get so touched with other movies in general. Barefoot Gen brought out the same emotions in me (and probably in many others). Coming into contact with the visual aspects of the manga we cannot help to un-see what we saw. I think this is one of the biggest differences of a manga and a novel. Whereas when I am reading a novel it takes time for me to imagine the imagery of what I am reading and often times I will move on without getting too emotionally attached to it as I do with something that is right in front of me.
At the same time manga can be extremely educational as they are more easy and enjoyable to read, especially for younger people, than are novels.
I have a few questions:
1. In Japan, is this story usually read by kids?
2. I think Manga and graphic novels are more popular in Japan than they are in the US. If there was a story to be written on the same subject (lets say WWII) in the US, (and there probably is but I don't know too much about it), but would it hold as much authority as would a novel? Do you think it would be recognized as an important and educational literary work if its a comic book?
This also brings out a common aspect between Barefoot Gen and Prize Stock. The Nakaoka family could care less about the war because they realize that all it brings is suffering of the commoners. The family could get by by raising crops and running a simple business and other political aspects are of no concern to them. Similarly in Prize Stock, the village in which the protagonist and his family live is far out in the country side, even the government officials hardly recognize them as an independent town with people worth caring about. Yet they have befallen in the midst of the war rage with daily bombings, food shortages and so on.
The reason this story was hard for me to read, was just as for Grave of the Fireflies. I watched the movie at least 10 times so afar and each time I couldn't stop crying during the movie, even though I rarely get so touched with other movies in general. Barefoot Gen brought out the same emotions in me (and probably in many others). Coming into contact with the visual aspects of the manga we cannot help to un-see what we saw. I think this is one of the biggest differences of a manga and a novel. Whereas when I am reading a novel it takes time for me to imagine the imagery of what I am reading and often times I will move on without getting too emotionally attached to it as I do with something that is right in front of me.
At the same time manga can be extremely educational as they are more easy and enjoyable to read, especially for younger people, than are novels.
I have a few questions:
1. In Japan, is this story usually read by kids?
2. I think Manga and graphic novels are more popular in Japan than they are in the US. If there was a story to be written on the same subject (lets say WWII) in the US, (and there probably is but I don't know too much about it), but would it hold as much authority as would a novel? Do you think it would be recognized as an important and educational literary work if its a comic book?
