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POST 3 - Nov. 16, 2018

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Far from my first encounter with Japanese entertainment and storytelling, and in fact not even my first encounter with the series itself, rewatching Hana Yori Dango this past month still surprised me with the series’ representation of both males and females. While I took displeasure with some character choices, such as Makino’s disinclination to speak neither her mind nor the truth, and the doormat personalities of… well… nearly all of the adults, what bothered me the most was the representation of values of the everyday Japanese citizen. With acceptance and lack of reaction towards the seemingly commonplace and quite brutal displays of violence, this drama is an example of how digital media can normalize false images of a foreign country’s culture and practices.

The main character Domyouji consistently exerts signs of, at the worst, mental instability, or, at the best, a dangerous dismissal of the wellbeing of those around him. He constantly fights, injures, and emotionally torments other students, professors, and even strangers on the street when he becomes upset and has a penchant for blowing up over nothing. The drama’s choice to not just design this character, but also create sympathy for him in the audience gives the impression that this is forgivable and acceptable. The other characters’ lack of response or concern synergizes this to create a world in which bodily and emotional harm can mean nothing to a person. To a foreign viewer, this “world” is Japan—the language, the setting, and the cultural practices that are accurate bolster the idea that this fictitious world is in fact a reenactment of Japanese customs, therefore tainting the unaware person’s understanding and image of the country and its people.

This practice exemplifies the potential dangers of digital media. Digital media not only is easily accessible to whomever has internet access, but also has the potential to become popular or viral, whether factually accurate, moral, or beneficial to humankind. Manga and anime are one thing, however as dramas take and reenact extreme situations with real-life actors portraying them, the medium creates the potential of formulating a hugely negative—or falsely positive—image of a country that merely creates more misinformation and delusion among those outside the community.

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