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Essay / How an Aesthetic Can Induce Nostalgia
Nostalgia is infamously subjective, making it difficult to find a single visual and aural stimulant that affects the general public. However, this essay will explore the variations of nostalgia and the similarities and differences of the chosen text in order to discover the most successful use of nostalgia created by a text's aesthetic choices. This essay will contain details of three unique texts, each with a distinct aesthetic but each with an equally parallel purpose. Elicit a reaction from their audience that will make them long for a simpler period of their lives, arouse a deep feeling of nostalgia. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay First up, the oldest and most renowned of the three texts explored, Cowboy Bebop. First released in 1998, this anime is highly regarded as a pioneer in its field of Japanese anime; both stylistically and narratively. The overall aesthetic of this 26-episode series is primarily that of a space western, with main character Spike Spiegel possessing similar traits to western actors like a young Clint Eastwood in his attitude, this generally means he would be laid back and almost apathetic. towards his general environment, which makes him an endearing and interesting character to follow. Although, in a brutal analysis, it is clear that Cowboy Bebop modifies its genre after each unique and iconic episode, for example, the episodes "Real Folk Blues", part one and two, are existential in nature and, to some extent , even dark. ; but it is still a huge success when the public faces it. Fortunately, this can show that aesthetic evolution like genre induces a sense of nostalgia as audiences remember each episode. When looking at consumer reviews on “Rotten Tomatoes,” there is one consistent tone among many. One user said: "Cowboy Bebop is now 20 years old and it's crazy to think that this series, which has influenced countless artists, filmmakers, writers and animators, seems completely timeless." » This review succinctly shows that the text in question occupies a special place in the entertainment and creative industry. It may also be fair to argue that the sheer age of this beloved series is perhaps the only thing that makes the classic space western so involved in people's lives, since the author of this quote prefaced the review with the age of the series. Alternatively, as if to exclude this, the author ends the quote with "ageless", proving that it was in fact the careful narrative and aesthetic choices made by the creators that cemented Cowboy Bebop in history as one of the most great anime of its time, as well as the foreseeable future. To demonstrate that aesthetic choice is the driving force of nostalgia, this essay will also discuss time as a counter, in this case, Voltron, the original series from 1983 to 1985 lasted for a few seasons to great critical acclaim due to its use of popular tropes and styles from other anime of the time, involving hyperbolic fight scenes and colossal mechs. However, in 2016, the series was rebooted under the name Voltron: Legendary Defender. Produced by the American company Dreamworks, the reboot was immediately appreciated by skeptics and loyal fans. A review on the IGN website by Jesse Schedeen says the following: "The series has that winning combination of being a modernized update of a beloved '80s property and telling a story that appeals just as much to adults..