A Wild Sheep Chase

     Reading a Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami gave me first hand assumptions that in occurring themes, “horror” films attract the audience, such as myself, by throwing in concepts that contain just the “original” shock effect of being scared or frightened. My assumptions were quickly proven to be wrong, in J-Horror, after researching the differences and comparisons of west and east “horror” films. Referring back to A Wild Sheep Chase I’ve never come to realize that most themes in J-Horror originated from the culturally negative influences from Eastern culture. Differentiating J-Horror from American or “Western Horror,” American Horror is generically based upon, again, by the “shock effect,” and for J-Horror that’s completely different.  For example, in A Wild Sheep Chase the protagonist suffers inner depression and self-inflicting thoughts of not being important for any wordly purpose; referring to the sheep being most associated with dangerous ambitions. The sheep, after more clarification, helped me to understand that the Eastern culture was involved in many wars and turning to dangerous ambitions. J-Horror is more influenced by their society and wanting just to live a generic and normal lifestyle. American Horror tries to recreate these films by giving a more mechanical plot of the original by not giving too much cultural background of the Easter origin. American Horror is just a fun, scary way to get your blood pumping and add suspense into your daily life. I found it interesting that many ghosts in J-Horror are associated with women, and the usual abuse from their husbands or counterparts, which results in the cause of seeking out revenge. Monsters also differ widely in American and J-Horror. American Horror includes zombies, vampires, werewolves, and in J-Horror the monsters mostly revolve around ghosts. Psychological pressure is more prominent in J-Horror more so than American Horror. Horror movies in Japan are the combination of history, culture and current social problems and America well, as I know of doesn’t revolve around using any common sense or any current social problems other than just making fun of women and men and the meaning of horror.

Vampire Academy

     Vampire Academy by far has really captured my attention mostly regarding the different relationships of each breed of “vampire”, which greatly helps move the story and characters along.  Firstly, the Moroi to me are a very high and respected breed of “vampire” that even though the sunlight annoys them rather than hurts them, the Moroi don’t live as long as their counterparts the Dephmirs, Moroi have to live off human or vamp blood to remain healthy and alive. In regards to Rose’s and Vasilisa’s relationship their strong, incredible bond is something of a friendly sort of sisterly love and Rose as a guardian keeps Vasilisa in check with her life, on balance. Shockingly, for me, seeing that the Moroi can, by their own will, choose to turn Sohgoi is a cause from wrestling with their innermost dark and sad thoughts. In a Moroi’s perspective,  being hunted by this dark inner force can cause them into wanting to escape their royal life by submit themselves to turning Sohgoi. Secondly, pulling farther ahead to a later scene, Vasilisa proudly explains that every “vamp or vamp/human” can’t be judged by their blood line or heritage. For example, I could tell that the Sohgoi are presumably identified as evil, arrogant, blood thirsty, etc. Even though they are given this identifiable trait by others Vasilisa has proved blood line to be something that shouldn’t be assumed as something bad, her boyfriend Christian. Thirdly, Rose, a Dephmir, who is part human and vampire, has a strong bond with Vasilisa where she can see the young princess’s thoughts. Rose’s special gift in turn helps her understand what Vasilisa is going through. I can see that Rose cared for Vasilisa deeply and wanted her safe. Rose was a friend Vasilisa could turn to in times of trouble and confusion, and the princess wrestling with her own dark feelings and yearning to be popular, wondered why she was born Moroi. This made her current emotions overpower her turning into something she was not meant to be. Rose was someone she could confide in and Vasilisa started to realize she went too far, that her fear of hurting others created a bigger threat. Vasilisa took a stand to that threat and proved that “bad blood” again is not based on your heritage but who you choose to become,  and what you choose to do with your life. In conclusion, family is anyone that is there for you and cares for you, that bloodline is just who your born as, but it doesn’t define who you really are.