(no subject)
Jul. 22nd, 2004 12:07 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
timepiececlockI watched a cute Ranma 1/2 video to Counting Crows' "Accidentally In Love", and while watching it I started to think about how everyone is everyone else's fiancé on that show.
Then I got to thinking about betrothal as a tradition, and how that compares to being engaged today. Then I got into another sociological linguistics thinking thing.
I was thinking how interesting it was, that there is so little to the act of becoming someone's fiancé entails in our culture, but how heavy the social status change is that goes along with it.
To be engaged, really, all two people have to do is come to the agreement that they want to be married in the future, and then to inform other people of this shift in the relationship. Traditionally it takes a formal ring, but for some that doesn't come later, or there is no engagement ring, just a wedding ring.
And yet, being someone's fiancé will get you into hospital rooms, will get you into family visitor's rooms, will get you a level of social acceptance and acknowledgement, even if it's only verbal, that just being someone's boyfriend or girlfriend won't.
And I was just thinking how interesting it was, that one single conversation between two people, where nothing needs to be signed or exchanged or anything formal or legal, can nevertheless change one's social status in relation to the other person with respect to the community. Unlike something that's ascribed to you by others, being engaged or not, having the weight that attaches to your relationship in other people's eyes, is entirely within your power to change or decide. You announce the change in your status, and the community accepts it (even if you're 18 and your parents don't like it). A stranger can't look at you and say "No way, you two aren't engaged! Where's your proof?" the way they might say "You're not a redhead!" or something.
And all this from one agreement in private between two people. Through an intangible moment of communication, tangible results result.
Words are powerful. In indirect but fascinating ways.
Then I got to thinking about betrothal as a tradition, and how that compares to being engaged today. Then I got into another sociological linguistics thinking thing.
I was thinking how interesting it was, that there is so little to the act of becoming someone's fiancé entails in our culture, but how heavy the social status change is that goes along with it.
To be engaged, really, all two people have to do is come to the agreement that they want to be married in the future, and then to inform other people of this shift in the relationship. Traditionally it takes a formal ring, but for some that doesn't come later, or there is no engagement ring, just a wedding ring.
And yet, being someone's fiancé will get you into hospital rooms, will get you into family visitor's rooms, will get you a level of social acceptance and acknowledgement, even if it's only verbal, that just being someone's boyfriend or girlfriend won't.
And I was just thinking how interesting it was, that one single conversation between two people, where nothing needs to be signed or exchanged or anything formal or legal, can nevertheless change one's social status in relation to the other person with respect to the community. Unlike something that's ascribed to you by others, being engaged or not, having the weight that attaches to your relationship in other people's eyes, is entirely within your power to change or decide. You announce the change in your status, and the community accepts it (even if you're 18 and your parents don't like it). A stranger can't look at you and say "No way, you two aren't engaged! Where's your proof?" the way they might say "You're not a redhead!" or something.
And all this from one agreement in private between two people. Through an intangible moment of communication, tangible results result.
Words are powerful. In indirect but fascinating ways.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-07-22 04:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-22 05:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-22 09:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-22 09:07 am (UTC)::gets starry eyed at the thought of reccing it::
Um, how big is the list we're talking about? If I can know what's on it I can rec stuff from it to you. Other than that, I can only really tell you the series I enjoyed and hope they in the collection.
- Spirited Away (a movie)
- Princess Mononoke, or Mononoke Hime (a movie)
- The Vision of Escaflowne (tv series not movie)
- Trigun
- Cowboy Bebop (tv series first, then the movie after episode 22, the the last eps of the series)
- Fruits Basket
- Naruto
- Full Metal Alchemist
- Witch Hunter Robin
- Blue Seed
- Gundam Wing (tv series then the movie)
- Fushigi Yuugi
- Macross Plus (is only 4 episodes)
- Blue Submarine No. 6 (is only 4 episodes)
- Ranma 1/2
- Inu Yasha
- Perfect Blue (a movie)
- FLCL, or Fooly Cooly
I hope that helps! I hope at least some of those are on there, because that's the list I'd rec, in a general but not exact order, meaning the best ones are near the top of the list and the others are getting into the "good not great" category.
Except FLCL, which is very very great, but is best viewed after you've seen a bit more anime, since it draws very much on the genre.
If those aren't in the collection, tell me some that are and I might be able to tell you about them. :) Oh, and you can listen to
no subject
Date: 2004-07-23 03:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-23 04:55 pm (UTC)Fushigi Yuugi is fun, exciting, and, even though it has some flaws, one of the most psychotically addicting anime series I've ever seen. While I was watching that series I was always dying to know what happened next, especially the further you go, because the plot is very complex. Although as time has passed my view of the series has changed to see more of its flaws, when I was watching it I just got swept up. Though I warn you, the main character can be annoying. And, remember, VERY addictive.
Naruto is my current obsession. I am head over heels for this series... I just can't get enough. It's just so fucking good. I would watch this after Mononoke, before FY.
no subject
Date: 2004-07-22 05:43 am (UTC)What about couples who get "promise rings" or whatever they're called? These people are essentially saying, "I want to marry you at some point in the future, because I'm agreeing to become to engaged to you at some point." But even though they are deciding to get married like they would be if they were engaged, somehow they're NOT engaged, and wearing someone's promise ring is no way to get into hir hospital room.
Using my Peter/MJ icon because they are already betrothed in my head, dangit. :D
(pssst, could I have a link to that Ranma 1/2 video?)
no subject
Date: 2004-07-22 09:13 am (UTC)Anyway, I just changed it to there's a link at the top if you click "cute ranma 1/2"
But even though they are deciding to get married like they would be if they were engaged, somehow they're NOT engaged, and wearing someone's promise ring is no way to get into hir hospital room.
Yeah. You're right... I don't think a promise ring means anything bigger than being a boyfriend or girlfriend (maybe because it seems juvenile, thus less serious, because I don't know of adults that would accept a promise ring) even though it probably does to the person. If someone said "But I have his promise ring!" it would not carry the weight that "But I'm his fiance!" carries.
speaking of vid links...
Date: 2004-07-22 09:25 am (UTC)http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members/members_videoinfo.php?vid_id=15781
assuming you've seen Dragon Ball Z. have you?