Forest and Coexistence
The two of these words are especially relevant throughout the film based on the experience that the audience visits.
There are several scenes where we can see the forest and coexistence being expressed such as when Ashitaka is on the verge of death and Princess Mononoke brings him into the forest. I feel as though this represented the human world being brought into the forest where spirits exist separately. We get to witness the Kodama come to life as Princess Mononoke walks through the forest hurriedly in order to save Ashitaka. They watch him closely and are curious, soon making their way over to examine him. Also during this scene, the fact that the forest spirit saves Ashitaka from death is showing that it knows that he is on their side in a way and knows and respects the forest, unlike the other humans that want to use it to their benefit.
As for this having an emotional connection personally, I watched this movie several times- When I was younger and when I was older. It’s always represented something within me so much more than was is expressed in the movie. I witnessed the themes and the deeper meaning and explored when it meant much long ago, but being in this course and recognizing exactly what I was feeling and searching for is exactly what I needed to hear.
Since I chose those two terms, I feel as though it represented a time in my life when I grew up in my hometown- I lived in the middle of the woods and forty minutes away from civilization. I remember specific events happening that sparked memories of the forest and coexistence. Watching this movie I felt a relation to the feelings. I remember vividly a fox standing at the edge of the forest line and I gazed back at it with a feeling of curiosity. I existed in this forest along with the animals. They operated on their own and we lived in their home- Yet in a way, they also lived in our land and our home.
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