do you prefer traditional shojo titles or the kind that is more subversive and critical of the patriarchy?

Aug 5, 2021 4:59 PM

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Jul 2018

561872

By traditional I mean the rather more common type where a girl from a rather poor background falls in love with an aristocrat of the opposite gender and through various hardships, separations,adventures and drama love and happiness prevails in the end. This does not mean that shojo series with that plot cant reach classic or epic status as there are countless examples, it is just that it is less today when compared to previous decades.

The second kind is far more favored among certain critics and circles who grew mainly with Sailor Moon and look at the former series with a more critical eye: Same gender relations among girls and boys, gender bender, gay friends etc mainly to subvert the patriarchical trope that a young girl has to strive to be likable by males at the expense of her independence. Even if the execution of such narrative is far more difficult with mixed results.

Settings for both can vary from 19th century to modern school settings and from fantasy to scifi and in both there can be dramatic and tense scenes too.

Do you care about the more critical series? Personally as long as a series or manga is enjoyable I do not mind the simplicity of the outcome.

Eg I can enjoy both Rose of Versailles but also La Seine no Hoshi.

Eg in Fostine manga despite a plot seen dozens of times it is well executed

Though I realize this setting would be far more popular in Europe when compared to America, since during that time Japanese shojo manga had a fascination with old European novels and poetry. One reason anime series of that kind are far more popular there or were at least among a certain generation. One reason Ashita no Nadja flopped probably trying to captivate newer audiences.

.

Aug 5, 2021 5:15 PM

CraTerDestroyer

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Oct 2020

435

I’m one of those people who doesn’t care about premise or ideas nearly as much as execution, so trad since many of them are executed well

Aug 5, 2021 6:37 PM

deg

lagom

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Jan 2009

107262

i will just go for whatever is more in demand with the time like this days so Stay Woke like i mean if i wanted to watch old traditional anime setting and plot then just force myself to watch those old shows instead

Aug 5, 2021 7:31 PM

ponpokorin

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Feb 2020

418

I usually don't like straight romance so probably subversive. not that traditional shoujo can't be good, though.

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do you prefer traditional shojo titles or the kind that is more subversive and critical of the patriarchy?

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