YURI ANIMATION : QUEER IDENTITY AND ECOFEMINIST THINKING

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Kimberly D. Thompson (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Advisor

Su-ching Huang

Abstract: Yuri or Shojo-ai a sub-genre of Japanese Animation and Manga can be defined as women-loving-women narratives that explore the relationships between women. Although the sub-genre has only been recently introduced to the West it has been in existence in Japan for nearly a century and has been used as a means to resist stereotypical perceptions of both queer and heterosexual women. With the aid of perspectives found within queer ecofeminist and cyberfeminist theory four contemporary animations are analyzed to challenge the various myths about queer and heterosexual women. The animations Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl and Sweet Blue Flowers defy stereotypes of queer sexuality and identity by demystifying myths about the queer body and mind and the nature of the "closet." The animations ICE and Kurau Phantom Memory deconstruct the woman/nature myth and other fabrications produced within it such as the goddess myth and the queer against nature myth through the tales of two queer female warriors who must save humanity. 

Additional Information

Publication

Thesis

Date: 2011

Keywords

Literature, Asian, GLBT Studies, Women's studies

Subjects

Homosexuality in art

Sexual orientation in art

Gender identity in art

Animation (Cinematography)--Japan

Women--Comic books, strips, etc.

Women in motion pictures

Comic books, strips, etc.--Japan

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