num_pages: 108
description: Growing up in a fractious household in working-class Brooklyn my mother dreamt of living in France of experiencing civilization. As for myself molded by the gloomy obsessions of the adults around me I sought refuge as a child in a Japanese anime titled Lady Oscar and its story of a woman forced into the role of military officer for the royal guard at Versailles.Very personal in tone A Bloody Song examines the enduring mystery of time travel leading from an adult's awakening into the enchanted world of childhood and back again. It explores the major themes and imagery in the celebrated anime Lady Oscar and comments on those of The Rose of Versailles the manga it is based on. The essay also proposes to examine these motifs through a comparative study of Nobel-prize winning Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day.Divided into eight distinct parts or themes A Bloody Song offers a glimpse into the rich ancient culture and literature of Japan via one of its most famous animes and mangas. In this way it aims to elucidate the adult themes concealed within the dark fairytale realm of a cherished girlhood series. My main reason for revisiting this world is to save a favourite animated character from feeling abandoned. As I once did. As we all sometimes do.I enjoyed [the read]-simultaneously very academic and well-written.-Morris Berman author of Neurotic An Outsider Looks at JapanThe best tribute to a favorite manga and anime is to analyze it delving into its influences insights and impact. Caroline Kerjean does this beautifully in her personal passionate powerful essay about Rose of Versailles (Lady Oscar).-Alisa Freedman Professor of Japanese Literature and Film University of Oregon and Editor-in-Chief of the U.S.-Japan Women's JournalI was impressed by Kerjean's clear graceful writing and the wonderful diversity of sources she brings to bear on her topic.-Wendy Steiner author of The Trouble with BeautyThere is quite a lot to say about this wonderfully rich and evocative book!-Nathalie Nadaud-Albertini CREM Universit de LorraineWonderful book. I was especially struck by Kerjean's explanation of koi. I know the feeling...-Andrew Feenberg author of Nishida Kawabata and the Japanese Response to Modernity
language: English
title: A Bloody Song: How Anime and Literature Collide
publisher: FriesenPress