Bleach

1. Formal v Informal

Manga is very informal, as opposed to any of the other literature we have read earlier this year. Manga is written in normal everyday language, while most of the formal prose we have read was written in perfect English.

2. Illustrated v Non-illustrated

Perhaps the first thing that stands out about Manga is its illustrative quality. 95% of Manga is pictures and illustrations, whereas the prose we have read has had no illustrations.

3. Visually graphic v mentally instigating

The pictures aid in the telling of the story. The illustrations give the story much more feeling and emotion, and enable the reader to be able to empathize more with the characters. In normal prose, absolutely everything must be imagined.

4. Left-to-right v Right-to-Left

For me, the most interesting challenge in reading Manga was reading right-to-left as opposed to the traditional English-reading left-to-right.

5. Broad audience v Narrow audience

We tend to think pictures are for children, but somehow Manga seems to reach a much broader audience than normal prose. In fact, we classify normal prose as children’s, 9^th grade, college level, etc., but Manga appeals can be read by everyone.

2) My choice for a page with pure illustrations is Page 50

In my opinion, Manga images and images in general tell much more than words do. My reasoning behind this is because words carry connotations that lock us into thinking one narrowly. On the other hand, pictures and illustrations have the ability to carry as many meanings as the reader or viewer desires the drawing to carry. The page that I have chosen has a drawing that in my opinion signifies and represents confidence, arrogance, and ability. For someone else, it is possible that these drawings could mean something totally different. Since Manga allows freedom of interpretation, it can be more readily enjoyed.

3) Bleach referred to Heaven and Hell a couple of times. These two “places” are important concepts of Christianity. Soul society also refers to a similar type of movement from earth or life with other mortals to a life after death or life with immortals. Christianity also includes a fight between two powers the power of God and the power of the Devil. Both of these powers are not human, and their wars cannot be fought in human form. In addition, God gave his spiritual and mental power to Jesus who was seen on earth. Similarly, Japanese religion and beliefs seem to have a lot to do with the differences between right and wrong, although in Japanese culture, much of it isn’t judged.

4) In my opinion, page 18 in Volume 2 of Bleach perfectly explains the main lesson or moral of the story. As humans, we must help each other out as people, not discriminate at all, and not take into account whether someone is family or not.