Great Bleach Tangents

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

Discussion for the weekend.

Beyond the many Ban Kai Kubo has yet to show us and all the debatable growing up the kids have to do, there are so many unresolved tangents in Bleach that it would take Sensei  a nice ten years at least to thoroughly pick up all the loose threads, wouldn't you say? Given our manga-ka's propensity for dropping a thread and then picking it up a hundred or more chapters later, Bleach can sometimes resemble a very wooly carpet.

What are some of your favorite loose threads and what do you think are the chances of their being woven back into the glorious Bleachverse tapestry in some spectacular way?

For example, I've always been slightly pissed that we never got a resolution to the fact that Ishida had all those spy bacteria in him by Mayuri--did he get them out? Did Orihime undo that nasty business when she healed him? But I'm resigned to the fact that this loose thread may not be very important to the Master Tapestry. More important is the fact that Aizen got locked away with the hougyoku still inside him. And how about that BIG GIANT CLUE that Kubo threw in chapter 00b about Rukia's mystery visit to Earth with Kiyone--that's overdue some explanation. Rukia's connection to hougyoku. How about Orihime's vow to destroy the hougyoku? That got brought up in one panel and never touched about again. Don't even get me started about Orihime hints of development from Kubo that have gotten nerfed.

So, while we're all cozying up to some guaranteed Isshin backstory now, there's still a LOT of unresolved Bleach to bitch about. What are your favorite seemingly forgotten tangents? (I'm sure Sensei hasn't forgotten them--he's just slow and sadistic XD)

Comments

[kanjo-girl.livejournal.com]

That's a great explanation for all of them. But, I have to agree with fullkappaotaku; "lust" is usually referenced and associated with sexual ideals/concepts. That's why it's a bit odd to use the word, to me.

[miss-ragdoll.livejournal.com]

mmm well, maybe depends on the cultural references, for example there are places more open to comment and expand the concept beyond sexuality. I don't know how it is in Japan, but being as close to show feelings as they are maybe it had big connotations about what you want the most and not in a noble way of feeling. I repeat, not always sexually oriented.

[kanjo-girl.livejournal.com]

I don't really believe it's necessarily a cultural difference, but I understand what you mean. It's not really a sexual reference a lot of the time. I know that well; though, if you look at the comment below, I explained why I would think, in this case, the "lust" part implied a sexual thing.

BUT. It's not all that important. At least, not to me. I'd rather complain about how we haven't seen Rukia in ages. XD

[miss-ragdoll.livejournal.com]

true enough... I miss her like hell :__D

[strawberries-85.livejournal.com]

I think that in Japanese culture (and the language too perhaps?) "lust" does not merely have connotations of sexual ideas, but it is more about...longing for or desiring something, not necessarily sexual? (But given the chapters, it can still be "sinful"). I promise I'm not pulling this out of my ass, I read it somewhere but I have horrible memory. :p

[cyanglow]

It's not just Japanese culture. We've all heard the term "bloodlust" amirite? Obviously that term doesn't mean wanting to have or having sexytiems with... eh, blood (that would be bloodplay). It's an intense desire for carnage. (Hi there, Kenpachi, Grimmjow, Nnoitra, etc!)

[strawberries-85.livejournal.com]

True, but from what I had seen, most uh...westerners seem to associate "lust" with sexual desire of some sort. It's like the idea doesn't cross their mind that in different circumstances, it can refer to lust something different. Or maybe, I've just seen too many morons trying to discredit the Ulquihime relationship and perpetuate the belief that Ulquiorra is a evil, mind-raping demon. :D

[cyanglow]

I'm not sure if it's westerners, or anime/manga fans, TBH. Just for example, I have seen a lot of people assume that FMA accurately portrays the seven deadly sins, when in fact there's a whole lot more to those sins, and FMA wasn't the first story to have characters embodying them.

ETA: I forgot to include religion there (lol big omission, whoops). But considering Kubo isn't Roman Catholic, and Bleach isn't a religious story, that leaves a lot more open to interpretation. And we all know Kubo is good with poetry. XD

[kanjo-girl.livejournal.com]

I know where you're coming from. Totally. I don't think it's just Japan with that sort of concept, though. I think it's a lot.

But, I guess where I'm getting the "lust" part is some translations of the poem. Many people have taken the poem to translators and it almost seemed to imply something sexual, rather than a simple desire. Plus, while I was in Japanese class in highschool, I had brought it to my teacher and the same result came up. It seemed to insinuate the same thing.

[strawberries-85.livejournal.com]

Actually, there was quite a bit of debate about the poem and translators, trusted might I add, say that "desire" is perhaps a more accurate term to translate to, but certain translators may use "lust" because it fits with the overall theme of the poem, although it created "controversy" within fandom because apparently that was absolutely inappropriate in Bleach. I believe it was Cezaria that also used the translation "...Because of the heart, I desire your entirety."

I honestly don't see the issue with the poem because to me, it ties with the chapters in which we saw that Ulquiorra seemed to show this sense of fascination for Orihime and a longing to understand her views about the heart. When you then read "I lust for everything about you", it seems to me, to encompass that whole idea that Orihime represents about the heart and not just a mere sexual desire.

Uh, I hope that makes sense. Do keep in mind that it is not always easy to keep a truly faithful translation and that people may interpret poems differently, thus to some feel it implies "something sexual" and others see it as a desire greater than that. Like art, we don't all view poetry the same way.

[kanjo-girl.livejournal.com]

Ack. Long comment.

Yeah, I get what you mean. I think that, in the end, it doesn't really matter. At least, to me. Because I'd rather be talking about something else, considering this isn't really my...forte. That. And I feel like I'm about to contradict myself here.

I didn't have much faith in the translations; it's never been a problem with me. I don't read in between the lines, so it's not much an issue.

But. Jeez. It's just what I thought when I saw the chapter titled "Lust". That's it. *ducks head* I didn't know people would respond. XD