This medallion embodies the philosophical rivalry between an eastern and a western way of considering the world. Being more precise it is a dispute between Disney’s philosophy, and a more eastern way of thinking. If we analyze it, Disney films portray a black-or-white world: there are the bad guys, and the good guys. That sort of binary perspective tends us to discriminate and attack the bad guys, while positioning ourselves with the good ones. In other words, our duty becomes destroying the bad guy and helping the good ones, in order to make the world a « better place ». In this reality the good guys have done nothing wrong, they are pure and right in everything they are doing, that’s why we have to praise them.

As grown-ups adults, that way of thinking still remains, that’s why in a society where violence becomes more and more unaccepted, people tend to support some horrible decisions, such as killing someone in the most abhorrent ways. Killing savagely in the name of good.

People not only accept this kind of violence but even militate for it, just because we were once told that violence against the bad guys is legitimate.

This belief influences us in a lot of different aspects. We, as part of the good guys, have higher standards, values, we have the right values, possess the right way of thinking and looking at the world, while bad guy’s values are wrong, and that’s why they have to be exterminated. These kinds of codes can be very destructive, they polarize our world when in reality every situation is way more complex and subtle.

On the other hand, there are Miyazaki films, Miyazaki films put forward the complexity and subtleness of our beautiful world. Where there are no good guys nor bad guys, only people striving for love, truth, and happiness. It makes the movies truly « human », in its understanding of people’s perceptions and approaches to the world. Furthermore, it pushes people to be less categorical, understand each other and respect mutual choices, while fighting for what you believe is right.

We could develop this rivalry even more, as an example, we could mention the way western philosophy, from which has inherited America, considers nature: nature is a tool for men, nature is a resource we have to exploit, nature is something that has to bend before men. And on the other hand nature as a living and interconnected system, full of « spirits » we have to respect, love and care for.

Analysis by Julia Greseque