Yes, I know just what you mean - I have an orphan, too.
The anime "Revolutionary Girl Utena" is pretty much pure symbolism wrapped up in a twisty fairy tale / Bildungsroman / questing plot, with truly excellent characterization (in fact, in a sense Utena is pure characterization, because everything that happens can be interpreted as a reflection of "inner action", the workings of the psyche). Because of the extravagant symbolism, "Utena" requires extensive interpretation on the part of the viewer - there are probably as many theories of just what happens as there are viewers.
I love this anime with a passion, but was left feeling restless after watching it - I felt the need to articulate both my reaction to one particular character and my interpretation of what happens as a whole. So, I wrote a story.
As a result of my attempt to capture the atmosphere of the ornately visual anime in the non-visual medium of words, my style grew far more flowery than it usually is. There are several peculiar plot twists and some near-halluzinatory passages that I'm not sure work for anyone but me, also the result of my wish to recreate the densely woven fairy tale tapestry of canon. I was fairly heavy on the symbolism, which is unusual both for my writing and, as far as I know, for fanfic in general. The exposition is comparatively lengthy, while the conclusion is abrupt. Any or all of these elements may fail to work for readers. But they do work for me.
"Ever After" (http://strangeplaces.net/sylvia/Ever.htm) is not my best work. I am, however, very happy with it - because I did manage to get Saionji straightened out in my head, and I did succeed in putting down my theory of his roles, his development, and his relationship to Touga in a way that truly works for me. I didn't attempt to bring my interpretion of the anime as a whole into the story, but I did work it in as far as it was relevant to the plot, and - to me - it works.
no subject
The anime "Revolutionary Girl Utena" is pretty much pure symbolism wrapped up in a twisty fairy tale / Bildungsroman / questing plot, with truly excellent characterization (in fact, in a sense Utena is pure characterization, because everything that happens can be interpreted as a reflection of "inner action", the workings of the psyche). Because of the extravagant symbolism, "Utena" requires extensive interpretation on the part of the viewer - there are probably as many theories of just what happens as there are viewers.
I love this anime with a passion, but was left feeling restless after watching it - I felt the need to articulate both my reaction to one particular character and my interpretation of what happens as a whole. So, I wrote a story.
As a result of my attempt to capture the atmosphere of the ornately visual anime in the non-visual medium of words, my style grew far more flowery than it usually is. There are several peculiar plot twists and some near-halluzinatory passages that I'm not sure work for anyone but me, also the result of my wish to recreate the densely woven fairy tale tapestry of canon. I was fairly heavy on the symbolism, which is unusual both for my writing and, as far as I know, for fanfic in general. The exposition is comparatively lengthy, while the conclusion is abrupt. Any or all of these elements may fail to work for readers. But they do work for me.
"Ever After" (http://strangeplaces.net/sylvia/Ever.htm) is not my best work. I am, however, very happy with it - because I did manage to get Saionji straightened out in my head, and I did succeed in putting down my theory of his roles, his development, and his relationship to Touga in a way that truly works for me. I didn't attempt to bring my interpretion of the anime as a whole into the story, but I did work it in as far as it was relevant to the plot, and - to me - it works.
And there you have it. :-)