Honors Thesis Draft

[laurbits]

Here it is! My blood, sweat and tears. Still very much a draft since I haven't included the input from my professors yet. Feel free to let me know what you think! I could certainly use the feedback. Also, if you guys have some idea which journals to submit this to, let me know.

Mutilating the Maidens:
Problematizing the Dismemberment
of Female Bodies in CLAMP's Manga X

Re-uploaded: 03-25-2011. The link shouldn't expire anymore!

Please respect my wishes and do not distribute/use this for any other purpose besides personal reading. Thanks!

x-posted to manga_talk here.

Comments

[psychoe.livejournal.com]

Hmm, this is indeed where the thesis gets a little mucky. One of the major feedback concerning my work was that there is more "subversion going on in X than I allow." To clarify, I built my case that female nudes have more often been the object of the male gaze since the Renaissance but as my professor pointed out, these nudes are "resolutely whole." The dismembered women in X significantly varies from this model. Their fragmented presentation actually visually thwarts entire posession of the body.

I suppose what I intended to present was not that Kamui and Fuuma look upon the naked female body with desire (and vice versa with Yuzuriha) but the situation presented has eerie but significant parallels with other examples--such as erotic manga in which men are placed in the position of watchers/viewers of the violated female body.

I'm sorry if it's still confusing! As you can see, I'm still very much trying to get the wording/reasoning right and believe me, your questions are certainly helping me formulate this better. Thank you very much for your interest and comments!

[(Anonymous)]

"To clarify, I built my case that female nudes have more often been the object of the male gaze since the Renaissance but as my professor pointed out, these nudes are "resolutely whole." The dismembered women in X significantly varies from this model. Their fragmented presentation actually visually thwarts entire posession of the body."

yes, the dismenbering may be a perversion of the male gaze; but how in hell does it have anything to do do with a typical female gaze?? lol

Shoujo manga almost NEVER has any graphically violent scenes, simply because women do not like to see violence, and (i bet) especially female violence.
I have yet to know any woman who finds it exciting to see another women trucidated, just like a man would find it exciting to see another man in the same fashion. :P