Shingster wrote:
Markgway wrote:
Yes, but we're talking about an entirely different culture.
Other than the fact that their child anime/manga/films are slightly edgier I see nothing in Japanese culture that would better prepare children for violent/"sadistic" material than over here in the UK.
just by a quick thought I can think of a few...
one would be that there never was the same hysteria towards movie violence in Japan as in many other countries. In the UK BBFC was banning and cutting films and politician telling these are the devil's product... doesn't exactly help kids handle movies in a grown up way. In Japan, perhaps because of the samurai culture living in pop entertainment, movie and video game violence has never been that much of a big deal or forbidden fruit (might be an interesting comparison to alcohol consumption in Italy and France... even kids are allowed alcohol there, and don't have any problems).
another thing might be the traditional expectations and pressure set by the Japanese society to its members not to cause any shame to their families. In western culture everybody is pretty much encouraged to Rambo to make their own future at any cost. A Japanese kid would think twice before imitating Bruce Lee movies in the class as he would know it will get him in trouble, which in turn will get his family in trouble, and that would, in worst case, make him want to kill himself (one of the downsides in Japanese culture).
Like all societies, Japan also sets the ideal that the citicens are expected / wished to follow. But due to Japan's strong racism towards anyone who differs from others there's a stronger incentive to follow this ideal. In the western culture, again, no one cares if you go bonkers (as long as you don't perform a school massacre).
just a few thoughts and points, not meaning to make a real argument here.