Project Title
William Blake and Hayao Miyazaki: Nature vs. Humans
Faculty Mentor(s) Name(s)
Jennifer Flaherty
Abstract
Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli films use what the romantic poets did through their writing and apply a visual representation of the destructive relationship humans have with the environment. Of those romantic poets, William Blake used his poetry to show that nature is superior to humans and that nature offers a type of serenity to humans. In his Poetical Sketches, he wrote two poems “To Spring” and “To Summer” in which he gives nature human characteristics to show that nature can speak and uses its voice through the description he provides. However, when Miyazaki began directing films through Studio Ghibli in 1985, he showed how humans believe that nature is inferior to them in many of his films. He takes the civilization of humans and their greedy nature to show that they have no regard for the natural world, especially in his film Ponyo. In this film he shows how the world of humans and nature are connected to each other and rely on each other to survive, even though parts of the film show nature attempting to destroy the human world.
Through both individuals, they bring awareness to their readers and viewers about the role humans have in nature and how damaging they are to the environment. They take the ideas and understanding of ecocriticism and provide an insight into why it is important to take note of how nature is behaving. From Blake’s serene, humanistic descriptions to Miyazaki’s cruel and rebellious behavior, nature is seen as both beautiful and cruel.
William Blake and Hayao Miyazaki: Nature vs. Humans
Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli films use what the romantic poets did through their writing and apply a visual representation of the destructive relationship humans have with the environment. Of those romantic poets, William Blake used his poetry to show that nature is superior to humans and that nature offers a type of serenity to humans. In his Poetical Sketches, he wrote two poems “To Spring” and “To Summer” in which he gives nature human characteristics to show that nature can speak and uses its voice through the description he provides. However, when Miyazaki began directing films through Studio Ghibli in 1985, he showed how humans believe that nature is inferior to them in many of his films. He takes the civilization of humans and their greedy nature to show that they have no regard for the natural world, especially in his film Ponyo. In this film he shows how the world of humans and nature are connected to each other and rely on each other to survive, even though parts of the film show nature attempting to destroy the human world.
Through both individuals, they bring awareness to their readers and viewers about the role humans have in nature and how damaging they are to the environment. They take the ideas and understanding of ecocriticism and provide an insight into why it is important to take note of how nature is behaving. From Blake’s serene, humanistic descriptions to Miyazaki’s cruel and rebellious behavior, nature is seen as both beautiful and cruel.