CONFLICT AND COEXISTENCE: AN ECOCRITICAL STUDY OF PRINCESS MONONOKE

Authors

  • Basheer V P Assistant Professor of English, Kunnamangalam Government Arts and Science College Calicut Kerala.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v4.i2.2023.4978

Keywords:

Ecocriticism, Environmental Ethics, Princess Mononoke, Hayao Miyazaki, Human Nature Relationship, Deep Ecology, Anthropocentrism, Coexistence, Industrialization

Abstract [English]

Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke presents a compelling narrative that foregrounds the complex relationship between humanity and nature. This ecocritical study explores the film through the lens of environmental literary theory, analyzing the ideological tensions between industrial progress and ecological preservation. The film’s portrayal of characters such as Ashitaka, San, and Lady Eboshi illustrates the nuanced moral positions that defy simple binaries of good versus evil. Through its rich symbolism, animistic worldview, and interwoven human and non-human agency, Princess Mononoke offers a powerful commentary on coexistence, environmental ethics, and the consequences of ecological imbalance. This paper examines how the film reflects deep ecological concerns while also proposing a model of symbiosis rather than dominance. It also discusses how Miyazaki critiques anthropocentrism and advocates for a more sustainable, interconnected worldview.

References

Buell, Lawrence. The Environmental Imagination: Thoreau, Nature Writing, and the Formation of American Culture. Harvard University Press 1995. Foundational Eco criticism text useful for theoretical framework.

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Iverson, William. Ecological Literacy: Education and the Transition to a Postmodern World. State University of New York Press, 1995.

Yasue, Tetsuya. “Nature and Spirit in Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke.” Animation Studies Online Journal, vol. 6, 2011.

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Friedman, Lester D., vol. 67, no. 3-4, pp. 17–28

Denison, Rayna, vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 589–604

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Published

2023-12-31

How to Cite

Basheer V P. (2023). CONFLICT AND COEXISTENCE: AN ECOCRITICAL STUDY OF PRINCESS MONONOKE. ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts, 4(2), 4292–4298. https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v4.i2.2023.4978