Lacayo's perspective and the Postmodernist reflection.

Akira...A whole lot more than it seems.

After watching one of the anime all-time classics, Akira, I find myself completely confused and lightheaded. The movie itself was great, the animations were smooth and the story line was as confusing as an episode of Lost. Nevertheless, it was good, but I'm not going to write a critique about the movie. As we were in class today, Professor McCay prompted us to analyze different aspects of the movies and, considering my overflowing luck, I ended up with the Post-Modernist influences in the movie. First of all, at that particular moment I still had no idea what on earth the Postmodernist manifesto was, even less on how it applied with Akira.

After much deliberation and the exchange of many "WTF?" looks, I finally began to understand the concept a little bit more. The movement branches off from the original Modernist viewpoint; which goes against the "traditional forms of art, architecture, religious faith...and daily life" (Wikipedia). Therefore, the Postmodernist movement believes that the norm/reality is subject to change because of people and their reactions to life. How do they relate? Modernism just wants to change the norm while Postmodernism believes that it’s always subject to change. This is just a very simple definition and still the concepts take a moment to understand. I still haven’t been able to fully grasp the idea of it.

Now, how does this relate to Akira and Tetsuo?

Let’s put in consideration Tetsuo’s situation. He’s a poor young man who is pretty much in the bottom of the caste system. I personally believe that one of the reasons he’s alive is because he has friends who care for him and protect him when circumstances become difficult, which seems to happen a lot to this unfortunate guy. This dependency on friends causes Tetsuo to develop resentment towards his friends; he is tired of the “damsel in distress” image he has. Tetsuo wants his own rules, he wants to have the power to set his own directions and not follow and be constantly saved by those who are stronger than him.  When Tetsuo obtains his psychic powers, he is able to finally set his own rules. Here’s when the theme of Postmodernism is at its highest. Tetsuo doesn’t want the reality that has been set for him; therefore he seeks to create his own reality where he is the one with power, a hero, almost a god. People begin to worship him and they begin to accept the norm which he is setting but ultimately that reality which he seeks ends up turning against him…or does it?

Tetsuo: An image of Postmodernism?
From a boy to a god to an abomination.

Postmodernism questions purpose and truth, it seeks its own norm which ultimately changes because of the natural flow of life. Tetsuo is trying to change his reality; he questions his purpose, realizes his position and aims to change it. Nevertheless, it doesn’t go as he intended. However, the ending of the movie is open-ended, leaving us to interpret what is the scenario and what is the closure as the screen fades to black and Tetsuo calls his own name.

Ultimately, meager Tetsuo tried hard to change his norm, he achieved that and yet his norm changed again in a manner of minutes. That is Postmodernism at its finest.

Now, despite all of that, the movie was fantastic. I can for sure see why it’s deemed as one of the greatest anime movies of all times. It can for sure be added to my list of ‘watched and loved’ anime.

“I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take...when people run in circles. It's a very, very Mad World.”

-Xavi