Taboo Visual & Performing Arts Essay Research Paper

Manga and Anime portray taboo subject matter much more openly than western comics. This has unfortunately earned them the stigma and label of being perverted. Perhaps the main issue stems from the fact that, although taboo subject matter is sometimes touched upon in the west, it is done purely through underground comics whereas manga offers this type of material to any average mainstream reader. Furthermore, although such subject matter may be depicted in the west, the message associated with is is very clear - such behavior should be avoided at all costs! On the other hand, manga and anime attempt to place the reader/viewer in the shoes of the props on/people engaging in said behavior (e.g. I Love my Little Sister), and truly understand the emotional turmoil or issues they experience. Additionally, they do so while eliciting sympathy from the reader which allows him or her to sympathize with whatever taboo they are presented with. And herein lies the issue,



1. Should taboos be made available through entertainment? Should they be turned into a leisurely pastime? Is this appropriate or not? Is it actually fair to label anime and manga perverse just because of their attempt to understand these problems while doing so in a fun loving and entertaining way?



2. Does encountering taboos in such a way make them easier to swallow? If so, does it in turn bring about more intellectual curiosity about said issues and does it offer more comprehension rather than the traditional 'don't ask, don't tell' approach?



3. Finally, should these issues be widely talked about or is it perhaps better to keep certain subject matter away from young audiences? (This is an entirely opinion based question but make sure you defend whatever point you make in a convincing manner).