The film Battle Royale, though over twenty years old, contains themes of generational conflict that remain relevant to this day. I thought the movie was wonderful, it was a movie I kept thinking about long after I finished. In fact, I took a deep dive throughout the linked “online resource for Battle Royale fans.” However, the point I should make here is that this movie might be more relevant than ever with increased conflict between generations, particularly Gen Z rebelling against their Gen X, Boomer, and sometimes even Millennial family members. I also find myself agreeing with Andrea Arai’s analysis of the film, Killing Kids: Recession and Survival in Twenty-First-Century Japan.” A key word out of her paper is, “militarization.” Japan continues to have a troubled relationship with their dark past. A rather infamous example of this troubled relationship is the rewriting of history and glorification of Imperial Japan found in Japanese textbooks. Yet, as Arai herself points out, the glorification of a militarized society is unlikely to be the reason for the film’s popularity. Rather, the idea of youth fighting back against a corrupt older generation that seeks to control their lives is the reason for its greater appeal. And perhaps, therein lies a key defining line between generations. The aforementioned Japanese textbook controversy has mainly been spearheaded by older politicians, Boomers and Gen Xers. They harken back to the perceived “glory days” of Japan, whereas the youth dream of a better future by rebelling against these politicians. This battle between the conservatism from older generations and the idealism from younger generations presented in the movie and referenced in the article is one that continues today. The film speaks to the fears of both the older and younger generations. The older generations fear their influence declining due to rebellious youngsters, while the younger generations fear that those of older generations in positions of power are making decisions that will inevitably harm younger generations.
Prof L
Luke, this is really nice work!—one small concrete suggestion: as a way of more tightly integrating the shift from past to today in your paragraph, you could mention Arai’s distinction between the film’s historically-specific appeal to Japanese viewers 20 yrs ago and what she calls its “broader attraction.”
Oh! and note that word “management” that she uses: Arai’s analysis of the plight of youth intersects intriguingly with Harris’ analysis of millennials!