Spirituality/Shinto in Anime
What is Shinto?
Shinto is not a religion in its own right but rather an integration of beliefs and rituals that worship the gods (Kami (神) ). Kami represents sacred objects in nature, i.e. the sun, moon, wind, thunder. People also admire the spirits of the dead (the emperor’s ancestors, the family’s ancestors, and heroes of service to the country).
Another difference between Shinto and other religions is that it doesn’t have an official sacred scripture or a bible, only loose collection of prayers and rituals, known as the ancient prayers of Norito or Norii. Shinto leaders passed these prayers down through centuries, then eventually recorded them on paper. The guardians of the Divine Shrine are the ones who memorize the prayers. Then they send them to the gods during the annual matsuri (festival).
Shinto is not a religion in its own right but rather an integration of beliefs and rituals that worship the gods (Kami (神) ). Kami represents sacred objects in nature, i.e. the sun, moon, wind, thunder. People also admire the spirits of the dead (the emperor’s ancestors, the family’s ancestors, and heroes of service to the country).
Another difference between Shinto and other religions is that it doesn’t have an official sacred scripture or a bible, only loose collection of prayers and rituals, known as the ancient prayers of Norito or Norii. Shinto leaders passed these prayers down through centuries, then eventually recorded them on paper. The guardians of the Divine Shrine are the ones who memorize the prayers. Then they send them to the gods during the annual matsuri (festival).
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Aims: discuss how Shinto is handled in anime and how western audiences perceive it
Analysis: analysis of movies, looking at academic writings of the subject |
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Case Studies
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Spirited Away
Princess Mononoke My Neighbor Totoro |
Your Name
Mononoke Noragami Gingitsune Kamichu! Natsume Yuujinchou Hozuki no Reitetsu Yuki Yuna is a Hero |
Bibliography/Reading List
General List:
More Specific List:
More Specific List:
Essay Structure example
Introduction 1) aims of the essay
2) how I am going to analyse it
3) why we are looking at this
4) before we jump in/anything you need to know about Shinto
Chapter 1: discussing Ghibli movie (Princess Mononoke or Spirited Away)
Chapter 2: discussing non-Ghibli movie
Chapter 3: comparing both of them together
Conclusion
2) how I am going to analyse it
3) why we are looking at this
4) before we jump in/anything you need to know about Shinto
Chapter 1: discussing Ghibli movie (Princess Mononoke or Spirited Away)
Chapter 2: discussing non-Ghibli movie
Chapter 3: comparing both of them together
Conclusion