Hayao Miyazaki blasts consumerism and hipster tech users

[Tenofovir]

Hayao Miyazaki, of Studio Ghibli, and director of some of the more famous childrens’ films, works such as Spirited Away and Kiki’s Delivery Service has come out with some strong anti-consumer opinions. This was apparently published in a Studio Ghibli newsletter back in 2010.

Miyazaki while discussing iPads and the use of new technology attacked an iPad using interviewer so:

“That thing that looks like a gaming device in your hand, along with that strange stroking movement you make with your hands is by no means attractive to me, nor am I at all impressed by it. I feel a sense of revulsion for it, in fact.

I’m sure in short time there will be an increase in people on trains making those strange masturbatory strokes. It was the same when everyone started reading manga on trains, and when it became cellphones – I’m fed up with it.”

The interviewer responded that iPads were useful for information gathering and so on, yet Miyazaki went further.

“It may seem like I am ignoring your human rights to say this, but you can’t research any of that. Why? Because you have no way of knowing what it’s like to be on an old trireme, or having empathy with the men on board, covered in sweat as they labour at their oars.

You go out into the world without enriching your imagination. You are merely grasping the iWhatever as a skimming tool you use to stroke yourself.

I’m sure there are many people who want to become omnipotent by getting their hands on this iWhatever. I’ll tell you sir, there were once a bunch of people who wore radio cassette players (those bulky things) wherever they went in the sixties. They wore it like a priceless emblem.

They’re mostly probably living off of pension funds now, but you and them are the same. You jump at the newest gadgets, and all you do is relish the pride in owning one as some consumer.

You must not become a consumer. You must become someone that creates.”

Link.

I have to say I agree with the man. With such easy technology people end up slacking off, and not using their God given talents or efforts to be creative. Never mind the pretentiousness some people acquire from the use of expensive or cultural gadgets (so to say hipster fashion). This of course can be extrapolated further beyond mere gadget use to ones’ approach to life.

 

[RPRPsych]

Hayao Miyazaki, of Studio Ghibli, and director of some of the more famous childrens’ films, works such as Spirited Away and Kiki’s Delivery Service has come out with some strong anti-consumer opinions. This was apparently published in a Studio Ghibli newsletter back in 2010.

Miyazaki while discussing iPads and the use of new technology attacked an iPad using interviewer so:

The interviewer responded that iPads were useful for information gathering and so on, yet Miyazaki went further.

Link.

I have to say I agree with the man. With such easy technology people end up slacking off, and not using their God given talents or efforts to be creative. Never mind the pretentiousness some people acquire from the use of expensive or cultural gadgets (so to say hipster fashion). This of course can be extrapolated further beyond mere gadget use to ones’ approach to life.

This is quite an old story, but it’s still a timely one. Bravo, Mr. Miyazaki.

 

[Kamaduck]

I don’t know about this. I generally agree with Miyazaki, but I’m not sure about this.

I am reading Miyazaki’s words and typing my own using my iPad. I access this site almost exclusively through my iPad. I read wikipedia on my iPad. I write short stories and at least attempt to write a novel right here on this iPad.

I don’t like consumerism any more than the next person, but I’m not sure what Miyazaki thinks we should be doing. If I’m not allowed to look up information because I won’t get the full experience, then why bother learning anything about history? Why bother with storytelling? Why should I even tell stories, if nobody should read them?

I guess I might not really understand what he’s saying. I need technology to function in this society. I need my car to go to mass and school. I need my iPad to turn schoolwork in. It makes writing/editing stories and looking up information easier, and facillitates communication with friends. Same with my cell phone- I don’t use it much, but I need it in case I get lost or stuck while driving.

I’m not using those “gadgets” to impress anyone or avoid creating. I use them to produce and create things, and without them I wouldn’t be able to do as much. I just honestly don’t understand what he’s saying we should be doing, or what’s wrong with using technology to learn or create.

 

[Tenofovir]

He’s also been on record as stating that children should learn basic skills such as starting fires before they learn to read and write.

The environment children are now in, including our animation, is all virtual. TV, games, email and mobile phones, and even manga, everything we do in other words, they’re all robbing children of power.

Before they learn their letters, we must teach children the essentials, as we have done from the stone age.

How to start a fire, keep it burning, put it out, the nature of water, how to climb trees, how to wind rope, use a needle and thread, use a knife. I think the state must teach the children these things before they teach them to write.

web.archive.org/web/20110211110303/http://blog.livedoor.jp/dqnplus/archives/1595701.html

 

[Kamaduck]

He’s also been on record as stating that children should learn basic skills such as starting fires before they learn to read and write.

web.archive.org/web/20110211110303/http://blog.livedoor.jp/dqnplus/archives/1595701.html

It’s not a bad idea, I guess, but I’m not sure how much say the state has in it. Many children begin school already knowing how to read. I know I did. I didn’t learn any of that other stuff until I started high school. I still don’t know how to wind rope, nor how to use a needle and thread with any degree of competency.

For those skills to be “basic” or “essential”, though, I think we would have to use them in everyday life. Most people in developed countries don’t, whereas we need and want to read on a regular basis, so we’re likely to get used to that and better at that faster. People generally pay others to make clothing and rope for them, but everybody has to learn how to read for themselves.

It’s not necessarily a bad idea, I’m just not sure how it would work in practice, or how useful it is for everyone to retain those skills.

 

[laircy]

I don’t know about this. I generally agree with Miyazaki, but I’m not sure about this.

I am reading Miyazaki’s words and typing my own using my iPad. I access this site almost exclusively through my iPad. I read wikipedia on my iPad. I write short stories and at least attempt to write a novel right here on this iPad.

I don’t like consumerism any more than the next person, but I’m not sure what Miyazaki thinks we should be doing. If I’m not allowed to look up information because I won’t get the full experience, then why bother learning anything about history? Why bother with storytelling? Why should I even tell stories, if nobody should read them?

I guess I might not really understand what he’s saying. I need technology to function in this society. I need my car to go to mass and school. I need my iPad to turn schoolwork in. It makes writing/editing stories and looking up information easier, and facillitates communication with friends. Same with my cell phone- I don’t use it much, but I need it in case I get lost or stuck while driving.

I’m not using those “gadgets” to impress anyone or avoid creating. I use them to produce and create things, and without them I wouldn’t be able to do as much. I just honestly don’t understand what he’s saying we should be doing, or what’s wrong with using technology to learn or create.

This, exactly this.

I think some people get too hung up on the fact that it’s a piece of technology. I bet he wouldn’t mind someone reading a physical book (although as I look again, I am starting to have doubts), but reading the same book on an iPad? Oh no!

 

[suko]

Many children begin school already knowing how to read. I know I did. I didn’t learn any of that other stuff until I started high school. I still don’t know how to wind rope, nor how to use a needle and thread with any degree of competency.

For those skills to be “basic” or “essential”, though, I think we would have to use them in everyday life. Most people in developed countries don’t, whereas we need and want to read on a regular basis, so we’re likely to get used to that and better at that faster. People generally pay others to make clothing and rope for them, but everybody has to learn how to read for themselves.

It’s not necessarily a bad idea, I’m just not sure how it would work in practice, or how useful it is for everyone to retain those skills.

I basically agree with ya on this, although the part about how children begin school already knowing how to read… where I live, there are actually a number of high school students that still need tutoring in reading , and they aren’t retarded or anything, it seems to me that they just don’t care, and the education system here in the Detroit area isn’t quite the best. It’s sad, really.

 

[RPRPsych]

I don’t know about this. I generally agree with Miyazaki, but I’m not sure about this.

I am reading Miyazaki’s words and typing my own using my iPad. I access this site almost exclusively through my iPad. I read wikipedia on my iPad. I write short stories and at least attempt to write a novel right here on this iPad.

I don’t like consumerism any more than the next person, but I’m not sure what Miyazaki thinks we should be doing. If I’m not allowed to look up information because I won’t get the full experience, then why bother learning anything about history? Why bother with storytelling? Why should I even tell stories, if nobody should read them?

I guess I might not really understand what he’s saying. I need technology to function in this society. I need my car to go to mass and school. I need my iPad to turn schoolwork in. It makes writing/editing stories and looking up information easier, and facillitates communication with friends. Same with my cell phone- I don’t use it much, but I need it in case I get lost or stuck while driving.

I’m not using those “gadgets” to impress anyone or avoid creating. I use them to produce and create things, and without them I wouldn’t be able to do as much. I just honestly don’t understand what he’s saying we should be doing, or what’s wrong with using technology to learn or create.

I doubt very much he’d object to any of the uses you mention. I think he’s referring more to those for whom such devices become an obsession, a status symbol, or an excuse to avoid genuine interactions and relationships. He’d be very cool with your writing using an iPad. His argument is: be a creator, not a consumer.

 

[Kamaduck]

I basically agree with ya on this, except for the part about how children begin school already knowing how to read… where I live, there are a number of high school students that need tutoring in reading , and they aren’t retarded or anything, it seems to me that they just don’t care, and the education system here in the Detroit area isn’t quite the best. It’s sad, really.

Well, yeah, I know lots of people don’t. But I didn’t learn how to read at school- my parents taught me, and by kindergarten I was reading short chapter books. My parents thought it was more important to teach me how to read than how to wind rope or use a needle and thread.

OK, speaking of using a needle and thread, and knives, I really don’t think that’s a good idea. Many first-graders don’t have the coordination necessary to use those things safely, without stabbing themselves, and I don’t think it would be wise to hold off on teaching them to read until second or third grade. They’ll be way behind and will have a harder time learning now that that window of opportunity has passed. These may be useful skills to learn, but so is reading.

 

[Kamaduck]

I doubt very much he’d object to any of the uses you mention. I think he’s referring more to those for whom such devices become an obsession, a status symbol, or an excuse to avoid genuine interactions and relationships. He’d be very cool with your writing using an iPad. His argument is: be a creator, not a consumer.

But don’t reporters and interviewers use their iPads to do their jobs? They need to research to be proper journalists, and need to communicate for the same reason. That’s how they make and distribute their product.

I do agree that we should avoid buying things as status symbols or just because other people have them, but it seems like he’s objecting to the use of technology itself. It can become an unhealthy obsession, but can also be a useful tool.

 

[suko]

but it seems like he’s objecting to the use of technology itself. It can become an unhealthy obsession, but can also be a useful tool.

That’s kind of how I understood it as well, based solely on this one interview. I’m not quite sure he understands how useful technology can be. Like most things, they can be abused or used to enrich our life.

I think we need a 2nd interview for clarification on this, lol.

 

[mikekle]

I agree with him as well!

Did we really need tablets? I dont think so, everyone already has cell phones that can do almost anything a regular computer can do, besides that they have small, medium and large laptops that are extremely light weight, so they can be used anywhere…so what is the market for tablets?

I am starting to think if a certain manufacturer makes something and advertises it right, people will buy it, even if there is no need for it, or they already have the same device (in another form)…I think the popularity of tablets has proven this correct!! LOL

I would never buy a tablet, I have a smartphone, and a laptop at home…why do I need another device that is basically a smaller laptop/larger smartphone?

I noticed on our local news, when the anchors do stories standing up, they are always holding tablets in their hands, but never use them or even look at them, they have ear pieces in to hear the producer and a teleprompter telling them the exact words to say, so I was left wondering why they are standing there like idiots holding tablets? I think its purely for looks, they want people to see them holding such a device, so more people feel like they should go out and buy one! LOL

Truly a very sad pathetic world we live in.

 

[Kamaduck]

I agree with him as well!

Did we really need tablets? I dont think so, everyone already has cell phones that can do almost anything a regular computer can do, besides that they have small, medium and large laptops that are extremely light weight, so they can be used anywhere…so what is the market for tablets?

I am starting to think if a certain manufacturer makes something and advertises it right, people will buy it, even if there is no need for it, or they already have the same device (in another form)…I think the popularity of tablets has proven this correct!! LOL

I would never buy a tablet, I have a smartphone, and a laptop at home…why do I need another device that is basically a smaller laptop/larger smartphone?

I noticed on our local news, when the anchors do stories standing up, they are always holding tablets in their hands, but never use them or even look at them, they have ear pieces in to hear the producer and a teleprompter telling them the exact words to say, so I was left wondering why they are standing there like idiots holding tablets? I think its purely for looks, they want people to see them holding such a device, so more people feel like they should go out and buy one! LOL

Truly a very sad pathetic world we live in.

Everyone at my high school is required to have a tablet. I don’t have a smartphone, and my laptop is… I’m still kind of trying to figure it out, since I just got it. I should probably do that sometime soon, because iPads do have several pitfalls (like being unable to add anything without internet access, not running flash, and not being useable for hulu and certain youtube videos). They’re basically just light laptops that are MUCH cheaper but have fewer useful abilities. I use mine for writing, looking things up, reading, listening to music, watching anime and other videos, doing and turning in schoolwork, and talking to my friends.

But this is Miyazaki we’re talking about. I don’t think he likes computers in general- he didn’t use them for his art until he absolutely had to, and I’m OK with that. That’s how he creates, and he creates brilliant things. I suppose I resent the implication that everything I choose to make is worthless just because I use technology to make it. That the motion my fingers make when scrolling up through my story means that my art is not art at all.

I’m fine with him stating his opinion, of course. I just disagree, if that is in fact what he’s saying.

 

[CesarAugustus]

Recently, in another interview, he spoke about the lack of realism in the characters of some anime productions:

“You see, whether you can draw like this or not, being able to think up this kind of design, it depends on whether or not you can say to yourself, ‘Oh, yeah, girls like this exist in real life.’”

“If you don’t spend time watching real people, you can’t do this, because you’ve never seen it.”

“Some people spend their lives interested only in themselves.”

“Almost all Japanese animation is produced with hardly any basis taken from observing real people, you know.”

“It’s produced by humans who can’t stand looking at other humans.”

“And that’s why the industry is full of otaku!”

Like in the interview that is presented in this thread, leaving some exagerations (“Almost all”), or generalizations, he has a good point.

 

[Kamaduck]

Recently, in another interview, he spoke about the lack of realism in the characters of some anime productions:

Like in the interview that is presented in this thread, leaving some exagerations (“Almost all”), or generalizations, he has a good point.

That is an interview that I do mostly agree with, and I think it’s tied to his perception of technology. It seems like he sees technology as inherently fake and impersonal- manga, too, that could be why he lists that in the same category as cell phones and iPads. Seems like he’s concerned that people aren’t engaging with the real world anymore, just spending time in their fantasy worlds. And that’s why he thinks we need to engage with reality. He values real experiences, and that might be why he blasted research- he’s saying that reading about something can never be the same thing as the real thing, and we need to stay rooted in reality if we want to create useful fantasy. Does that make sense?

I think he’s mostly right in that sense, but I don’t think he’s correct in conflating technology and products in general with fantasy or escapism.

Or maybe he is right, and I’m just biased because my only real skills and interests are abstract (writing, reading, science experiments, memorizing facts), and even after a couple years of training, I’m still terrible at the things he describes as “basic” skills. It’s hard to say.