Arakawa stops short of total neutrality for science, even when the intention is about as pure as you can get and the once-destructive force is even potentially willing to be re-used. I find it intriguing that Edward's position is that something once made via evil/sacrificial/destructive means cannot be rendered positive/constructive simply by a later user's intentions. This position is seen as counter-productive, even self-defeating by the rest of the characters, but the text seems pretty clear about Edward and Alphonse being in the 'right' on this.
This is a really interesting thought. It seems to me that Arakawa gives the non-purists a decent out, though, in that they pledge to use the lives stored in the Philosopher's Stone for good. Ed does it with Envy's stone, Al does it with the stone stolen from Kimberley, Hohenheim does it with his own stone, and Mustang does it with the doctor's stone, to get his sight back. This comes back to your using-the-negative-thing-for-good trope, dunnit? *grins*
The military's own goals, for the military's own glory, done at the cost of the citizenry and possibly with full knowledge of the costs the citizenry might eventually bear, but who cares? The military certainly doesn't.
Isn't this what WWII Japan experienced? All suffering was for the glory of the Emperor and "Japan", which in practical terms turned out to be the military, as the enactor's of the Emperor's and "Japan"'s will. It's true of feudal societies in general, I would think (but then you know I don't think too hard.) Seems to me like Arakawa created Amestris to be a feudal state masquerading as a democracy -- now that's effing deep, don't you think? Wow.
I saw a post somewhere that had a link to a Japanese site, possible at Shounen GanGan, where you could leave a message for Arakawa-sensei. Dunno if the comments are still open, but I could try to dig up the link, if you like.
And FWIW, I normally detest analysis. Somehow you make it interesting. :D
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Date: 27 Jul 2010 03:17 pm (UTC)This is a really interesting thought. It seems to me that Arakawa gives the non-purists a decent out, though, in that they pledge to use the lives stored in the Philosopher's Stone for good. Ed does it with Envy's stone, Al does it with the stone stolen from Kimberley, Hohenheim does it with his own stone, and Mustang does it with the doctor's stone, to get his sight back. This comes back to your using-the-negative-thing-for-good trope, dunnit? *grins*
The military's own goals, for the military's own glory, done at the cost of the citizenry and possibly with full knowledge of the costs the citizenry might eventually bear, but who cares? The military certainly doesn't.
Isn't this what WWII Japan experienced? All suffering was for the glory of the Emperor and "Japan", which in practical terms turned out to be the military, as the enactor's of the Emperor's and "Japan"'s will. It's true of feudal societies in general, I would think (but then you know I don't think too hard.) Seems to me like Arakawa created Amestris to be a feudal state masquerading as a democracy -- now that's effing deep, don't you think? Wow.
I saw a post somewhere that had a link to a Japanese site, possible at Shounen GanGan, where you could leave a message for Arakawa-sensei. Dunno if the comments are still open, but I could try to dig up the link, if you like.
And FWIW, I normally detest analysis. Somehow you make it interesting. :D