The article by Boyd & Nishimura (2004) explores the
contemporary anime film Spirited Away
and its relationship with Japanese Shinto belief. The article establishes several
important motifs surrounding Shinto belief with the understanding that modern
portrayals in such popular anime films as Spirited
Away serve a secondary purpose through their affirmation of ancient
cultural beliefs within modern day Japanese citizens. The depictions of Shinto within
Spirited Away serve two purposes upon
both a global and local scale. Globally, the exposure to Shinto belief and
practice upon the western world helps to promote cultural understanding and
appreciation of eastern practices, through the popular medium of anime film.
The efficacy of this medium becomes unquestionable when assessing anime
popularity throughout all western countries, thereby providing the perfect
method for gradual exposure of westerners to eastern spiritual belief.
Secondarily, the article highlights the importance of cultural exposure on a
local scale, through which locally, Japanese individually which might not have
the knowledge or interest in Shinto belief, become exposed and educated, and
further reinforced culturally, with their Shinto heritage. In the instance of
the article, the global and local scales of Shinto exposure work commensurately
in both eastern and western settings, allowing for cultural reinforcement within
the east and cultural education within the west.
References:
Boyd JW and T
Nisimura. 2004. Shinto Perspectives in Miyizaki’s Anime Film ‘Spirited Away. Journal
of Religion and Film, 8, 2.
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