Princess Ai

1. Princess Ai is a fiction comic book about the adventure of a female rock star. The story is written by Courtney Love and Ai Yazawa which the plot in this comic encounter some of biographical element in Courtney Love’s life. First similarities of Love’s and Ai’s are the mixed heritages. Princess Ai is half-human and half-angel. Her human father is a king in Ai-land and her mother is a female angel. Furthermore, Courtney Love also have mixed heritage, she was born to a Jewish and Irish descent. Second similarities are the guy that they fall in love to. As most people know, Courtney Love was married to a rock musician from Nirvana, Kurt Cobain in the early 90s. They have one daughter from their relationship. Similarly, Princess Ai fall in love with a fellow rocker named Kent. Both of these men, Kurt and Kent, were similar in appearance despite their similar starting letter of the name. Moreover, both of these women face the ups and downs of being a rock star. They experienced the struggles in the music business. Many people love and hate both of these women. In Princess Ai story, Hikaru is one of the characters that have a strong jealousy over the princess. In reality, Love’s controversial behavior and music were not accepted in many societies.


2. Courtney Love and Princess Ai have strong resemblance to one another, which leads to the similarities of the women portrayed in other reading throughout the semester. These women are very unique and have their own mind and way of thinking. Similar to the girls in the story “Moliere Pretentious Ladies”, they all have their own way to express their ideas and how to behave. Sometimes, people don’t understand them and think that they are crazy due to their distinctive way of thinking.

3.Colorful costumes have a significant role in Princess Ai comic book. The costumes here are very punk-rock looking, flashy, ripped stocking, and most noticeable: many laces in the outfits as well as plaids. The costumes integrate with cultural background, hence, it’s not surprising looking at these costumes in the comic book because in reality, Japanese culture also represent these costumes.

• Page 6: Princess Ai wondering around the streets with lot of people turning their heads watching her passes by. One of the bystanders even said, “Whoa! Check her out.” She wears ripped outfit which reveals half of her bosoms hanging. In Japan, most people are freely to express their sense of fashion.
• Page 70: I was very fascinated looking at the costumes of Princess Ai’s parents. Her mother wears a long puffy draped dress like a Victorian style. Also, her dad wears long half furry robe with mask that has pointy end. In Japan, people wear these kinds of clothes as everyday wear. The street of Harajuku is very popular for the funky and fresh styles of people.
• Page 138-139: Princess Ai likes to be different. Hence, when her friend Shinji lends her a dress, right away she cut the dress for her to be more comfortable wearing it. Princess Ai said, “I’m just particular about my fashion”. Most fashionable people in Japan like to make/ design their own clothing. They like to mix and match their own design with something that they bought from the store.
• Page 110: Princess Ai bares it all only wearing a black panty while getting complement by her friend, Jen, about her voice. Her figure is tall, thin, and slim. The body shape drawing is following the proportions of the real human body.

Source: http://www.style-arena.jp/harajuku/2008/05/e_w2.htm