This show... It should be called Overreactions: The Anime.
On one hand, from experience and a logical understanding of how people can be, I understand the character motivations in this show. On the other, I just can't relate to them. This was true of the amateur movie arc, it is true of the cultural festival one, and it is so in real life as well.
I can't empathize or sympathize with such fundamentally self-involved (in my opinion) ideas as those highlighted in this episode, and which seem to be the central conceit of this show:
1. The idea of expectations, envy, and dumping one's own personal silliness on others. Judging by this arc and Irisu's speech to Oreki at the close of her arc, it is a theme very close to the author's heart. I find it very, for lack of a better word, narcissistic, this kind of vicarious wish fulfillment. I can rationally somewhat understand the possibility of feeling inferior to someone just because they're better at something, but I've never really felt it myself, in all honesty. I've met tons of people more skilled at things I like, and likely am more skilled at other things than others with similar interests.
2. The idea of the existence of an objective masterpiece goes against all my beliefs, but that's not to say it is an invalid opinion. However, the way Mayaka argues for it is distasteful, albeit very true to how such debates often go in the real world. Her stance comes across very immature - "I love this thing, and think it in absolute terms the best thing ever. The only reason you don't think there is an absolute best thing ever is that you haven't experienced this thing. If you experience it and still disagree, then you're an idiot and I have nothing more to say to you." I might have misinterpreted her in that last bit, though.
She leaves no room for subjectivity. Even when it seems like she's changed her mind at the end of the episode, she quickly regresses. Her point seems to be that if she accepts that subjectivity is a huge factor in discussions of art, it will become "pointless". Again, it's all black and white, no gray. Why should personal preference preclude debate? Why is it impossible to accept that someone can disagree with you and still discuss the difference of opinions? If anything, it seems to me more logical that absolutism is more likely than subjectivism to suppress debate, reduce it to either mutual fawning or one-sided lecturing.
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On another note, just how many people with inferiority complexes and ridiculously exaggerated passive aggressive tendencies attend this school? First you have the laughably manipulative ice queen who... didn't like an amateur film script, then the anguished mastermind who messed with a school's yearly cultural event because... his best friend won't write manga. I daren't imagine a future where these folks run huge firms or hold down important government positions. Then there are the two secondary protagonists. It's all a bit much for my tastes.
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The reason I like Hyouka is the relatively down-to-earth nature of its first few episodes, including the Sekitani Jun arc. The film arc is likely my low point, but the school festival arc gives it a run for its money. It feels unnatural to me, and blown up out of proportion, in contrast to the small-scale mysteries that seemed to be the show's focus (per the MAL description and introductory episodes). It is far more to my taste than other drama-first SoL dramedies like Oregairu or Sakurasou, although the two main arcs really try their best to make me feel otherwise. |