"Hayao Miyazaki's works often resort to ancient folktales, beliefs, and customs to reveal modern problems. Yet, his views on modern science and technology are complicated, and he does not offer simple solutions. In reference to scholarly studies and specific examples, we get to discuss postmodern characteristics in Miyazaki's work in the cinemas
In the creativity world, Miyazaki's work brings inspiration to the world. His creativity makes people smile, laugh, dream cry among other conflicting feelings with his incredible work which can be categorized as the work of a professional. His stories are so magnificent that they leave one wondering how a person could come up with such a complicated twist of events. This makes him funny and artistic at the same time. Under his name, he has created some of the highest-ranking anime we have watched over the past years; the provided list gives us a number of his collections; Spirited Away – 2001, Prince Mononoke – 1997, Castle in the Sky – 1986, The secrete world of Arrietty – 2010, Boro The Caterpillar – 2018, My neighbour Totoro – 1988, Howl’s Moving Castle – 2004, The Wind Rises – 2013, Kiki’s Delivery Service – 1989, Ponyo – 2008 and many more. What is evident in all his work is his take on technology and science. This has been seen in a number of his productions, and this gives the viewers a take of what his views towards technology is to him (Cavallaro). He has used the art of film making to clearly depict his notion and understanding of technology in relation to man and how to interact with it.
Over the years the Anime production industry has been dominated by advanced technology and futuristic science, but when analyzed close enough it is evident that Miyazaki's work does not follow the path cut out by the rest in the industry. This makes most of his work original and different that most viewers can relate to. In a different light, this can be seen as resistant to change.
It is evident that Hayao Miyazaki has a complicated relationship with technology and science, he does not offer a simple solution to the adaptation of both fields in the human world. This is seen under his postmodern characteristics present in his anime. Science and technology and their implications in human nature are often at the core of the central conflict of his movies despite his signature work such as the bizarre, retro-futuristic technology artifacts which are mostly seen as his trademark (Cavallaro).
From some of his movies it is evident that Hayao has a complicated view towards postmodernism. A number of his earliest works namely the Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984) and both are set in a distant future. From the kickoff, one would expect the flow of both movies to have a compelling theme that embraces postmodernism, but for these case, the movies capture the humanity, and technology with nature thrown in the mix, this makes these productions palpable.
In the first movie Nausicaa, which is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland which is populated by poisonous insects and a toxic jungle referred to as the Sea of Decay. The human settlement is scattered in the nontoxic areas. It turns out that the current state was as a result of the humanoid bioweapons referred to as the God Warriors which were created by man. One of the scene we find the god of warrior’s in battle and we are shown the magnitude of there attacks in a war (Osmond). These attacks disintegrate their rivals but, in the process, completely destroy the land in general. From this scene it is evident that they had led to the current state in the Wastelands. From the movie, it is evident that Hayao has the feeling that humanity has yet to grasp the power associated with technology and science.
The reviews of the concept behind the making of the movie helps in the explanation on how the movie is on the high reliance of technology and science has led to less trust of the human abilities as well as the natural set up of nature (Mayumi). It turns out that the monsters and the toxic plants that crawl into the sea of the wastelands are actually trying to purify the polluted soils which have been tainted by humans. From the analysis of the movie, it is evident that Hayao does not have a simple definition towards what technology and science is. He gives out a totally conflicting image of what science is as well as captures the concept of postmodernism that many fails to address. This is the concept that science and technology have a negative side that can lead to the end of the end of human race. He also brings out the idea that the advancement in technology has given man lots of powers which they are not in a position to currently control it for good (Mayumi). The creation of the weapon God warrior for instance is a technology achievement but its distractive nature affects the entire human race.
In other work by Hayao Miyazaki, he goes ahead and addresses technology and the advancement in the field. Castle in the Sky: The legendary Kingdom of Laputa was the next movie released two years after Nausicaa and also addressed the same topic in relation to technology and scientific advancement. The anime is set up in an alternate history steampunk era that revolves around the mythical kingdom located on the Floating Island. The kingdom is filled with robots and no human inhabiting it after the abandonment by the previous inhabitants.
The island is left abandoned by the decree of the royal family eventually after the technology that used to govern the island was used for evil. The scene where they finally get access to the floating castle we are introduced to the advanced technology that revolves round the castle and the magnitude of its defence system by blowing up an entire city in a matter of seconds (Chute). The level of greed of man has been shown and its repercussions have as well been seen in the movie. Through out the movie we find the far measures the man can go so as to get to the uncontrolled power brought by the technological advancement of man, the selfish nature of man in search of power clearly helps show the small knowledge we have in the advanced technological stage we are headed. From the movie most of the scene show us the peace and fun experienced with less involvement of technology but man is fuelled with the hunger for power. Hayao Miyazaki as a film maker takes his perception of the world and the people in it and comes up with such a creation for us to see and for the keen t learn from it and give their opinion towards this. People may have different views in relation to the movie or of the perception of technology to many.
The abandoning decision was a way of avoiding the use of the technology for evil (Chute). From this work it is clearer to us that Hayao clearly has an opposing stand towards the use of technology as well as the advancement of science. He does not see any light in relation to the adaptation of postmodern concept to the human race. Humanity is not in a position to control such power. Technology and science is seen as a tool of destruction when placed in the wrong hands. An interview with Hayao Miyazaki on artificial intelligence also gives us a clear understanding of how this is processed by Hayao (Chute). During the interview, he claims that technology has made people to lose faith in themselves and over-rely on technology which is destructive to the human race. Hayao Miyazaki uses his talent to paint out his perception towards science and technology and paints a clear picture to many.
Reference
Cavallaro, Dani. The anime art of Hayao Miyazaki. McFarland, 2006.
Chute, David. "Organic Machine: The World of Hayao Miyazaki." Film Comment 34.6 (1998): 62.
Mayumi, Kozo, Barry D. Solomon, and Jason Chang. "The ecological and consumption themes of the films of Hayao Miyazaki." Ecological Economics 54. 1 (2005): 1-7.
Osmond, Andrew. "Nausicaa" and the Fantasy of Hayao Miyazaki." Foundation (1998): 43 -57.
